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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 8 June 2017

Universal’s ‘The Mummy’ kicks off push for new film universe

LINDSEY BAHR universe an aspirational
AP Film Writer business model. The most
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Is The successful attempt was
Invisible Man any match “The Mummy” reboot from
for Iron Man at the box of- 1999, with Brendan Fraser,
fice? which spawned two se-
That’s the question Univer- quels and a spinoff. Others
sal Pictures will be testing attempts floundered — like
with their Dark Universe “Dracula Untold” in 2014
— a connected, multi-film and “The Wolfman” in 2010
revival of the studios’ clas- — and went back into the
sic monster properties from vault. Even this present-day
the 1920s through 50s, in- set “Mummy” reboot has
cluding The Invisible Man, been in various stages of
Dracula, Frankenstein and development since 2012.
the Phantom of the Op- What is new is the idea that
era. It launches this Friday the monster films will all re-
with “The Mummy,” starring late to one another. “The
Tom Cruise. Mummy” promises to get
The studio already has In this image released by Universal Pictures, Tom Cruise appears in a scene from, “The Mummy.” this interconnectedness
flashy talent lined up in Associated Press going immediately by in-
front of and behind the troducing Crowe’s Dr. Je-
camera for this expanded they are one of the only Me” films, to name a few. and television shows going kyll character as the leader
universe, including Johnny studios that hasn’t been “This is an incredible oppor- back to November 2014. of a shadowy multinational
Depp as The Invisible Man, able to capitalize on the tunity for Universal to set it- It’s also likely been an ex- corporation, Prodigium,
Russell Crowe as Dr. Henry comic book craze,” said self apart by leaving Marvel pensive investment. which is committed to de-
Jekyll and Javier Bardem Jeff Bock, a senior box of- and DC to compete head “For the studios’ sake, this stroying evil in the world
as Frankenstein’s Monster. fice analyst for Exhibitor Re- to head with their super- better pay off, as they’ve (not dissimilar sounding
The Dark Universe has a lations. hero line-ups while offering invested a fortune already. to Marvel’s overarching
Danny Elfman-composed Nearly every major studio a fresh take on the notion Tom Cruise, Danny Elfman, S.H.I.E.L.D.)
theme and a nostalgic has at least a scrap of that of interwoven characters Bill Condon, Russell Crowe, Whether or not that means
trailer looking back at the coveted intellectual prop- and stories,” said Paul Der- Alex Kurtzman, Javier Bar- anything to an audience is
days of Boris Karloff, Lon erty too; Disney has the garabedian, a senior me- dem ... these people de- still up for debate for some.
Chaney and Bela Lugosi. Marvel Cinematic Universe dia analyst for comScore. mand big up-fronts and Forbes contributor Scott
Creatives Alex Kurtzman (and Star Wars), Warner “There are unlimited cre- even bigger back-end Mendelson isn’t sold on the
and Chris Morgan are Bros. has the DC Extended ative possibilities.” deals,” Bock said. “I’m idea that moviegoers nec-
stewarding the endeavor. Universe, Sony has Spider- The idea of the Dark Uni- not saying they’re betting essarily care about shared
It’s no wonder why Uni- Man and Fox has X-Men, verse, including the name, the farm on this thing, but universes.
versal is trying it out. In the but Universal Pictures has has been on the table for they’re certainly blowing “The only way to make
hierarchy of Hollywood remained ardently outside quite some time. While Uni- through truckloads of that this thing work is to make
franchises, it’s hard to beat of the comic book squall. versal officially announced ‘Fast & Furious’ cash.” a bunch of good and
the idea of the shared uni- Instead, it’s focused on the name in late May, the Universal has actually been crowd-pleasing star-driven
verse, which superheroes homegrown franchises, like company has been scoop- waging its own experi- monster movies that will
dominate. the $5.1 billion “Fast & Furi- ing up trademarks for more ments with its monsters for get audiences excited out-
“Universal desperately ous” films, the $3.6 billion than 600 types of branded years, long before Marvel side of their existence in a
wants a universe to call “Jurassic Park” films and items, from energy drinks and its “Avengers” films shared universe,” Mendel-
their own, especially since the $2.7 billion “Despicable to canned vegetables made the interconnected son wrote.q

Noel Gallagher is donating song

royalties to Manchester fund

JOSEPH LONGO Nation, Festival Republic absence, saying he had
Associated Press and SJM Concerts pro- shown his “true colours.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Noel duced the event, which “Sunday’s concert was a
Gallagher will donate roy- was broadcast around the huge success, and we are
alties from Oasis’ song world. all dismayed that there is
“Don’t Look Back In Anger” Gallagher told organizers negativity aimed towards
to the British Red Cross’ that he would donate the Noel Gallagher,” Wednes-
One Love Manchester royalties and approved us- day’s statement said.
fund, a spokesperson for a ing Oasis’ music at the con- Coldplay’s Chris Martin
benefit concert where the cert, the statement said. later defended Noel Galla-
song was performed said His brother Liam Gallagher, gher. Martin said everyone
Wednesday. 44, performed at the ben- knew in advance he could
A spokesperson for the pro- efit concert, fueling specu- not make it.
duction companies behind lation the brothers would Noel Gallagher’s spokes-
Sunday’s benefit concert reunite. Oasis disbanded in man previously said the In this Oct. 19, 2015 file photo, Noel Gallagher poses for pho-
said that neither Gallagh- 2009. singer could not attend be- tographers upon arrival at the Q Awards ceremony in London.
er, 50, nor Oasis was set to After the show, Liam Galla- cause of a long-standing Associated Press
perform. SB Projects, Live gher criticized his brother’s family trip.q