UMU looks inside Dr. Henry Jekyll’s briefcase and discovers a Dark Universe!

Earlier today, Universal Pictures revealed the upcoming outline and details regarding their newly minted “Dark Universe.” Following that news, the doors of Universal Monsters Universe rang with a very interesting delivery. A young gentleman, dressed in a suit and black overcoat, asked if I was Steven Biscotti and said that he had a delivery from Universal Pictures. He handed over a steel briefcase, with a name tag revealing that the case belonged to none other than… Dr. Henry Jekyll.

“Welcome to a new world of gods and monsters.”

Upon opening Dr. Henry Jekyll’s briefcase, I found numerous items that would reveal not only a deeper insight into the world of The Mummy, but also more clues revealing the larger nature of Universal’s “Dark Universe.” The contents of the briefcase were a black notebook with the logo for Prodigium embossed on it, a few polaroid pictures, a map, two letters, a sealed envelope, some torn out notebook pages, newspaper clippings, a series of photos, and Dr. Jekyll’s Foster Grants, his pen, and a mini magnifying glass.

Interestingly, the leather bound Prodigium notebook contained a series of five polaroid photos, a map, and a letter. The photos, while not revealing anything new, offer a new look at the discovery of Ahmanet’s tomb/prison by the likes of Nick Morton (Tom Cruise), Vail (Jake Johnson), and Jenny (Annabelle Wallis.) One of the photos does showcase the Army extraction of the sarcophagus.

However, there is a letter from Henry to Jennifer that contains Prodigium letter head and a seal. This is where things get interesting. The letter reads:

Dear Jennifer, Investigate Burial Site – Haram 35.094ºN 43.555°E – With great regard, Henry

It’s obvious that the letter is from Henry Jekyll, but Jennifer? One could only guess that the “Jennifer” is Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis). To elaborate on this, Annabelle Wallis has said the following:

“My character’s stationed out in the Middle East to work for World Heritage. You might find out that is sort of her guise. She’s searching for something, and she has a map. Tom [Cruise] is out there and he loots these World Heritage sites that I protect. He basically steals a map from me, knowing how precious it is, and knowing how precious it is, and knowing that I’m looking for something. So, it must be something of great value, Lo and behold, it leads us to the sarcophagus that holds the Mummy. So, he finds it for me. Later on, you’re going to find that I’m far more entrenched… there’s a backstory that is going to be interesting to divulge. I might not be who I say I am.”

When asked if it may have something to do with Dr. Jekyll’s Prodigium, just as the letter suggests, Wallis had the following to say:

“Ohhhh, it might and it might not! She’s definitely on a mission.”

Thanks to Annabelle Wallis, I believe it’s safe to say that Universal Monsters Universe has cracked one of the mysteries – Jenny Halsey is a member of Prodigium and may or may not share some relation to the figure in charge – Henry Jekyll.

Also inside Dr. Henry Jekyll’s briefcase is a large envelope that reads:

WARNING: SPECIAL ACCESS REQUIRED, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, FILE NAME: 060917 file no.

For myself, this was one of the most fun of things to discover about the briefcase.

When opening the envelope, a Prodigium Intelligence Division file is discovered on Tom Cruise’s Nick Morton. There’s been so much speculation on his character since before filming began and ever since it was revealed that he’s playing an amoral tough guy, much like Frank T.J. Mackey in Magnolia and Vincent in Collateral, certain fans have speculated that he might in fact be Van Helsing. The Prodigium Intelligence Division file seems to prove that Tom Cruise is playing Nick Morton, NOT Van Helsing. Cruise’s soldier of fortune is revealed to be a retired US Army Sgt. whom they warn to “DO NOT ENGAGE.” The dangerous Nick Morton is also “known to be highly connected to worldwide Black Markets.”

We also find out that he has two known associates, with one of them “deceased.” 1 & 2 are blacked out or “redacted”, but *SPOILER ALERT*, UMU could reveal that associate #1 is Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis) and associate #2 is Sgt. Vail (Jake Johnson).

Next up is an envelope that reads “Dr. Henry Jekyll”. It contains a letter from “Malik.” Malik is played by Marwan Kenzari. The letter is quite important as it reveals something very interesting about Dr. Henry Jekyll:

“Sir, Per your intructions, the security upgrades to your office have been completed. I’ve personally overseen the final installation. All tests passed.

As discussed, failsafe measures that I obviously cannot disclose have also been implemented. Highest confidence that environment meets your specification for confinement of Edward. Your medical supplies have also been replenished and relocated for greater accessibility. (See attached)

Full written report (with test results) will be available by the time you return to the home office. – Malik

It’s safe to say that Dr. Henry Jekyll’s office has been upgraded to contain and confine Mr. Edward Hyde.

Following Malik’s letter to Dr. Jekyll are three torn out notebook pages from what appears to be one of Dr. Jekyll’s notebooks. Containing medical notes and sketches of the cortex, he writes of good and evil, heroes and half-gods, and power and energy. For you to best read the note, we’ve transcribed it here:

How is it that some of them are givers of good and others bring evil?

In what does a demon differ from a hero or half-god or from a soul?

Is it in essence, in power, or in energy?

It is also acknowledged that ignorance and delusion in respect to the Gods is irreligiousness and impurity, and that the superior knowledge in respect to them is holy and helpful. The former being the darkness of ignorance in regard to the things revered and beautiful, the latter the height of knowledge.

The former conditions will cause human beings to be beset with every form of evil throwing ignorance and recklessness, but the latter is the source of everything beneficial.

Aside from the revelation that Dr. Jekyll’s home office contains confinement measures of “Edward” and various notebook pages revealing the dark questions Jekyll has been contemplating, the briefcase also includes newspaper clippings. One newspaper clipping alludes to a sinkhole found “four miles south of the Great Pyramids of Giza” which is almost certainly where Nick and Sgt. Vail discover Ahmanet. But the other newspaper clippings reveal of attacks happening in Kensington, London. “A disturbing aspect of the assaults sources say, is that they “could have been committed by a human or an animal.” If you ask me, it seems like Mr. Hyde has been spending some time in Kensington.

Lastly, aside a series of photographs that reveal a much larger “Dark Universe”, we’re also given a top secret special handling memorandum from Prodigium. While much is redacted, the general idea reveals the initial moments following Prodigium’s capture of Ahmanet. In the memorandum, it is revealed that she is referred to as an “entity”, most likely due to her summoning the God of Chaos. It also says “it has not yet been determined whether this entity was responsible for the deaths during” and then the rest is blacked out. Among everything else, the memorandum warns of a great fear “that the dark tides have reached our shores.”

It was very exciting receiving, opening, and discovering the contents of Dr. Henry Jekyll’s briefcase. The invitation to the “Dark Universe” through Prodigium is one we’ve all well prepared for and it was just as exciting to be another part of this world and The Mummy as it has been all along. Be sure to take a look at all the photos I’ve included and if there’s anything I may have missed (cough… Creature from the Black Lagoon… cough) be sure to let UMU know in the comments below.

WELCOME TO PRODIGIUM!

As always, stay tuned to Universal Monsters Universe for the latest on The Mummy and the Universal Monsters Universe of films.

Tom Cruise headlines a spectacular, all-new cinematic version of the legend that has fascinated cultures all over the world since the dawn of civilization: The Mummy. Thought safely entombed in a tomb deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess (Sofia Boutella of Kingsman: The Secret Service and Star Trek Beyond) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension. From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.

The Mummy is directed by Alex Kurtzman, from a script by Jon Spaihts, Dylan Kussman, and Christopher McQuarrie. The film stars Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, Marwan Kenzari, Courtney B. Vance, Russell Crowe and Sofia Boutella. The film opens June 9, 2017.

(Steven Biscotti – @reggiemantleIII)