Tom Cruise In Talks To Headline Universal's Monster Universe; Star In Reboot Of THE MUMMY
Universal's upcoming monster movie universe may have something to be extra thankful for this Thanksgiving as the studio is reportedly very close to landing a megastar to headline The Mummy!
It sounds like Universal Pictures is really looking for the highest level of A-list talent to headline their upcoming shared monster movie universe as a day after news broke that Academy Award-winner Angelina Jolie (Maleficent) was being courted for Bride Of Frankenstein, Variety has learned that global superstar Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation) is currently in talks to star in Universal's reboot of The Mummy, subsequently lending a helping hand to Universal as they work toward launching their monster universe.
Plot details are scarce, but the film has been confirmed to be set in present day, unlike the Brendan Fraser Mummy trilogy. This time around, rumor has it that the Mummy will most likely be a female, and that Cruise may be playing an ex-Navy seal. Alex Kurtzman (People Like Us) is on-board to direct and Jon Spaihts (Doctor Strange; Passengers) is currently penning the script. Kurtzman will also produce alongside Chris Morgan (Furious 7) and Sean Daniel (The Mummy 1-3). At this point in time, Cruise is not expected to be a producer, at least not yet, but he is expected to play a major role in the development of the shared monster universe.
Speaking of Cruise, he's coming off the immense critical and commercial success of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, recently wrapped Mena with Doug Liman (Edge Of Tomorrow), and is currently filming Jack Reacher: Never Go Back with Ed Zwick (The Last Samurai). He was initially hoping to reunite with Liman once again for the sci-fi space adventure Luna Park, but with Liman signing on to helm 20th Century Fox's Gambit, which apparently has a fantastic script, Cruise found himself with a rare opening in his schedule for a few months before he kicks off production on Mission: Impossible 6 next August. Cruise was weighing a handful of offers, including The Shining prequel Overlook Hotel, but ultimately decided to tackle The Mummy, nearly three years after being previously attached to star in the Van Helsing reboot.
Universal's highly ambitious shared monster movie universe will feature updated takes on Dracula, Frankenstein, Van Helsing, The Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein, and The Mummy.
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The Mummy is expected to hit theaters March 27, 2017