Development continues on Universal’s planned “shared universe” of monster movies, and The Hollywood Reporter brings word that the first planned film in the series, a The Mummy reboot, could have a major change from the original film: a female monster. The outlet notes that casting is currently underway for the film and depending on how that process goes, one of two different approaches to the material will be shot: one that has a male version of the titular monster or one that has a female version.
Previously, the titular character has been played only by men across the different films in the series. Boris Karloff originated the role in the 1932 film with Arnold Vosloo taking on the role in both Stephen Sommers’ The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, and Jet Li playing the villain in Rob Cohen’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. 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 the title monster, albeit a different mummy than Karloff’s.
The Mummy offers a modern take on the legend that has endured since the dawn of man. Alex Kurtzman is set to direct the film from a script by Jon Spaihts (Prometheus). The Mummy reboot is set for release on March 24, 2017 with another Untitled Universal Monster Movie set to follow it on March 30, 2018.
