By early 2014, it seemed as though interconnected franchises in the vein of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (then in the midst of Phase Two) would be the future of Hollywood. Let’s not forget: both The Avengers and Iron Man 3 had grossed more than a billion apiece at the global box office. If other studios could replicate Kevin Feige’s risky, yet winning, formula, they could potentially be raking in the dough as well.
Writer Kevin Grevioux hoped to do just that with a pair of film IPs based on two of his own creations — Underworld and I, Frankenstein — given that they were both produced by Lakeshore Entertainment. Based on Grevioux’s graphic novel of the same name published by Darkstorm, I, Frankenstein (now streaming on Peacock) starred The Dark Knight alumnus Aaron Eckhart as Victor Frankenstein’s famous creation, who finds himself in the middle of an ancient war between gargoyles and demons.
“In my story, I had more monsters,” Grevioux said in this now-archived interview with I Am Rogue from 2014. “For me it wasn’t just gargoyles and demons, but it was gargoyles, demons, and vampires who were trying to basically use the Frankenstein formula and Frankenstein is all that stands between mankind and total destruction. So basically [writer-director Stuart Beattie] came in and simplified it but having just gargoyles and demons, but the story still works. I think we have a fantastic property.”
While Grevioux only ended up with a story credit, he did pen several early drafts of the script, one of which featured an end credits scene that set up crossover with the Underworld universe.
After all, a conflict between gargoyles and demons is not so different from a war between vampires and werewolves.
For more on Underworld & Kevin Grevioux:
Underworld: Blood Wars’ Kate Beckinsale On Series’ Longevity
Charting the Tragic Romance of Selene and Michael in the Underworld Franchise
‘Underworld’ Creator Kevin Grevioux on the ‘Raw Fun’ of Telling Black Superhero Stories
Was there really a plan to merge I, Frankenstein with the Underworld franchise?
“Whenever I write a script it is always with the sequels in mind,” Grevioux revealed in the 2014 I Am Rogue interview. “In fact, with this film [I, Frankenstein], what is unique, is that my first creation Underworld was also with Lakeshore. So I was even thinking a crossover between the two series. In fact, one of the early drafts I did… you know the end credit scenes that Marvel Studios does with their movies? I actually had one with Adam and Selene (Kate Beckinsale). But they didn’t do that.”
As we know, the crossover idea never came to fruition after I, Frankenstein bombed with critics and at the box office, grossing just over $76 million worldwide against a budget of $65 million.
I, Frankenstein is now streaming on Peacock.
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