SUBMITTED BY Typhon24

May 3, 2004 —

Although initial internet-based reactions to 'Van Helsing' have been overwhelmingly negative, Universal is still apparently interested in a follow-up to director Stephen Sommers' monster mash - here's the scoop, via a scooper over at Aint It Cool News:

For those who alrady hate "Van Helsing"...Make 'em read this! this month Italian cine-magazine "Ciak" reported an interesting dossier on the upcoming movie "Van Helsing", whose release date in Italy is on May the 7th, like in the U.S.A.

Well, the magazine said that producers of the film are currently still paying a rent for the studios in Prague, because if "Van Helsing" will do well at the box office in the first week-end of release, the production of a second movie will beging immediately (Jackman is under contract for a sequel...). "Ciak" went on stating that the new monsters that are going to perform in this new version are the Fish-Man from "Creature of the Black Lagoon" and the Invisible Man: the article says that Sommers had already "signed on" the Fish-Man for a cameo appearance in the original draft of "Van Helsing".... ...Interesting...

Sommers has since gone on record saying that The Creature has been cut from the film, not even making the second draft of the script. Even if 'Van Helsing' doesn't take off at the box office, the studio is prepping a new spin-off series for NBC entitled 'Transylvania' to take advantage of the Prague set.