Universal Pictures‘ has released the official synopsis for The Mummy reboot. Production is currently underway in London on what is intended as the first in a new interconnected cinematic Monster Universe. The synopsis follows:
Thought safely entombed in a crypt deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient queen (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.
Tom Cruise stars in the June 9, 2017 release along with Annabelle Wallis (Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur, Annabelle), Sofia Boutella (Kingsman: The Secret Service), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World) and Courtney B. Vance (“American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson”). Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, Man of Steel) is reportedly in early talks to join the cast as Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.
The Mummy is directed by Alex Kurtzman, who also produces alongside Chris Morgan (Fast & Furious series, Wanted) and Sean Daniel (The Mummy trilogy, The Best Man series). Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) wrote the screenplay, and Bobby Cohen executive produces. It’s being planned as the first film in the Universal Monster cinematic universe with plans for The Wolfman, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, and Van Helsing all in various stages of development.
The original monster was made famous on the big screen by Boris Karloff in Karl Freund’s 1932 feature. Subsequent sequels to the original The Mummy saw Tom Tyler (who played Captain Marvel/Shazam in the original 1941 serials) and later Lon Chaney Jr. playing a different mummy than the one Karloff played. Stephen Sommers’ more recent The Mummy and The Mummy Returns films set Arnold Vosloo in the title role. Jet Li then played the villain in Rob Cohen’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
