H.P. Lovecraft’s New Horror Reboot Reportedly Casts Beloved Mad Scientist

Herbert West is getting re-animated.

H.P. Lovecraft’s iconic mad scientist first came to cinematic life in 1985’s cult classic horror Re-Animator, embodied in unforgettable fashion by Jeffrey Combs, who reprised the maniacal role in 1990’s Bride of Re-Animator and 2003’s Beyond Re-Animator. 23 years after Combs’ third and final time playing Lovecraft’s take on Victor Frankenstein, the obsessively brilliant character is set to make a comeback in a modern-dress re-imagining.

With Combs himself not coming back for the de-hyphenated Herbert West: ReAnimator, the planned fresh adaptation of Lovecraft’s original story has cast a new mad scientist, tapping Joseph Morgan as the titular West. The Titans star will be joined by Arrow’s Katie Cassidy as Dr. Kate Locke (via exclusive report by Dread Central).

Herbert West: ReAnimator was first announced back in April 2025, with Adam Simon and Tim Metcalfe (Haunting in Connecticut) named as screenwriters. In addition to the big lead actor casting news, the latest project update names Jade Sandberg Wallis as screenwriter and Michael Grossman (The Originals) as director.

Newly-revealed Herbert West actor Morgan has starred in everything from Master and Commander: Far Side of the World to Mansfield Park to Open Grave, with further TV credits in the likes of The Vampire Diaries, The Originals (where he first worked with reported ReAnimator director Grossman), and Halo. Dr. Kate Locke actor Cassidy has copious horror experience, having starred in remakes of When a Stranger Calls, Black Christmas, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.

The short story Herbert West – Reanimator was written as a parody of Frankenstein and first serialized in 1922, going on to become one of Lovecraft’s most famous works, even though the writer himself was not happy with it. 1985’s film adaptation resurrected Lovecraft’s mad scientist for an over-the-top horror-comedy described in a May 2020 ScreenRant piece as “a true B-movie classic.”

The article ranking the three Re-Animator films placed the original at #1, saying, “Re-Animator was ahead of its time in many ways, but also is definitely the kind of film that probably wouldn’t get a theatrical release in 2020, due to a much more politically correct climate that might not appreciate things like a decapitated head engaging in sex acts, or a naked zombie just absolutely obliterating an old man before having his back sawed open onscreen.”

Director Stuart Gordon’s hugely influential 1985 Re-Animator has been widely praised by critics, raising it to an 88% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers laud the film for balancing shockingly gory horror with dry humor, and praise Herbert West actor Combs for his brilliantly over-the-top performance.

Herbert West: ReAnimator does not yet have a release date.