Javier Bardem is in talks to play Frankenstein in Universal's monster movie universe that already has Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe.
Universal is developing a Bride of Frankenstein picture, but Bardem's creature is probably going to appear in a universe-shared movie before that picture, according to Variety. The only official monster movie on the schedule is The Mummy starring Cruise in a new role, Sofia Boutella (Kingsman, Star Trek Beyond) as the titular monster, and Crowe as Dr. Jekyll. The Mummy is set for a June 2017 release, but the project is about to finish filming so it's unknown if Bardem will appear.
Universal has scheduled monster movies for April 2018 and February 2019, but did not specify what they could be.
Universal's first Frankenstein film was released in 1931 with Boris Karloff as The Monster. This was followed four years later by the critically-acclaimed sequel The Bride of Frankenstein. Universal's Bride remake is said to be written by David Koepp (Indiana Jones 4 and 5, Jurassic Park) and the studio is seeking Angelina Jolie to direct and star in the film, according to a Variety article from December 2015.
Bardem is best known for playing the Bond villain, Silva, in Skyfall and Anton in No Country for Old Men. Last year, he starred in The Gunman with Sean Penn. He's set to appear in Pirates of the Caribbean 5 coming out May 2017 as well as play Pablo Escobar in a biopic about a journalist (to be played by Bardem's wife Penelope Cruz) who gets in a romantic relationship with the drug lord. He also has a role in Darren Aronofsky's next picture with Jennifer Lawrence.