Following in the shoes of fellow superstar Tom Cruise, Oscar winner Javier Bardem may be joining Universal's upcoming monster movie reboot franchise as the star of a Frankenstein flick.

The intel comes from Variety, which reports that Bardem is now producers' top choice to appear as Frankenstein in Universal's new monsterverse. It's a bit unclear from the trade's report whether Bardem is being eyed to play Dr. Frankenstein (the monster's creator) or the monster himself (known simply as Frankenstein's monster, though he's often mistakenly referred to as Frankenstein, too). Based on Bardem's talent, it seems likely he's circling the part of the doctor, though we won't know anything officially until Universal comments on the casting.

Regardless of just who he's playing, Bardem's participation would add yet another familiar face to the reboot roster. In addition to Cruise, who's starring in "The Mummy," Universal has also secured Russell Crowe (who's co-starring with Cruise) and Johnny Depp (the Invisible Man, set for a standalone feature) for its upcoming slate. The plan is for the actor to eventually star in his own standalone feature, "The Bride of Frankenstein," but he'll first be introduced in another TBA monster movie, per the trade.

"The Mummy" is due in theaters June 9, 2017. A second monster movie is slated for April 13, 2018, and a third is scheduled for February 15, 2019.

[via: Variety]

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