With Universal Studios continuing to use its iconic monsters in interesting new projects, The Suicide Squad. Having been around for almost a century, the Universal Monsters evolved into a pop culture pantheon of heroes, villains, and even sitcom stars. However, when Universal’s ambitious reinvention of its classic horror movies failed to meet expectations with the Dark Universe, it called into question if their intended modern monster mash would ever happen.
The Universal Monsters helped to pioneer the concept of a shared cinematic universe, and the goal of the Dark Universe was to create a new one while emulating blockbuster franchise strategies similar to the MCU's. After the disappointing reception of Dracula Untold and 2017’s The Mummy, Universal canceled the Dark Universe’s other spinoffs in favor of distinct horror projects, which included Renfield. A comedy focusing on Count Dracula’s infamous minion (played by Nicholas Hoult), Renfield’s 2023 trailer promised a new direction for Universal and a more comedic take on their monster mythos.
Renfield Works As A Superhero Movie
The Dark Universe attempted to be as much a superhero franchise as it did a horror one by emphasizing over-the-top action, big-name stars, and setting up an Avengers-style team of classic gothic icons. Renfield’s trailer suggested the hallmarks of a DCU or MCU movie and the protagonist’s potential to be a superhero. The Dark Universe films ended with The Mummy’s critical failure, but its spirit of supernatural action heroes could still live on through Renfield.
There is a hint of a superhero origin story, with Hoult’s inhuman abilities gifted to him in Renfield by Nicolas Cage’s Count Dracula as he took on armed enemies in the trailer. Renfield's comment about Dracula growing to full power potentially set him up as a supervillain as his henchman confronted his guilty conscience and codependency issues. Renfield may not have been what the Dark Universe’s visionaries had in mind. However, its comedic tone and the delightfully bizarre premise could be the genesis of a new heroic horror mythology.
The Dark Universe Could Reboot As Action-Comedy (Like Suicide Squad)
Renfield might suggest the Universal Monsters can move beyond mere horror movie antagonists and prove they have a sense of humor. While many of the DCEU’s projects had mixed reactions, including the original Suicide Squad, its sequel, The Suicide Squad, and spinoff, Birds of Prey, were well-received. Noted for their colorful cast of anti-heroes, morbid sense of humor, and extravagant set pieces, The Suicide Squad’s and Peacemaker’s self-aware approach seems ideal for a reboot of the Dark Universe.
There’s potential for other classic Universal Monsters to exist and fight in an expanded Renfield universe. There could be fun dynamics between characters like a runaway Bride who wants to be more than Frankenstein’s mate, a half-mad Gillman rescued from a biologist’s fish tank, and Renfield, who relates to them more than he does his former group. Additionally, past films already showed that Universal’s characters fit well within the action genre, including Van Helsing and 1999’s The Mummy. The Dark Universe may not have been the cinematic rebirth audiences were promised, but like Renfield’s protagonist or characters of The Suicide Squad, the series just needs a chance for redemption.
