October 14, 2015 5:30am PT by Rebecca Ford
New Mummy in Universal's Monster Universe Might Be Female

The final decision will be based on finding the right actor or actress for the role, as director Alex Kurtzman and writer Jon Spaihts prepare their remake for March 24, 2017.

Universal is resurrecting The Mummy as the kickoff to its planned monsters universe. But when it hits theaters (it's slated for March 24, 2017), there could be one noticeable change from director Alex Kurtzman and writer Jon Spaihts: The Mummy may be female, with a unique backstory.

In the 1932 original and the 1999 remake, the monster was male, played by Boris Karloff and Arnold Vosloo, respectively. Sources say the gender of the monster in the new film, which is set in the modern day, likely will depend on casting, expected to happen in the next couple of months. There are two story options — one that would feature a female monster, and one that would feature a male.

Universal's The Mummy is planned as the first film in a series of interconnected monster films as Universal hopes to build a franchise out of its vault of classic movies. Other potential films revolve around the characters of Dracula, Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein and vampire hunter Van Helsing.

Tom Cruise in Talks to Star in ‘The Mummy’ Reboot (EXCLUSIVE)
November 24, 2015 | 11:41AM PT
Justin Kroll
Film Reporter @krolljvar

Tom Cruise is in talks to star in Universal’s “The Mummy” reboot, helping to launch Universal’s new era of monster films, sources tell Variety.

The studio tapped Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan last summer to help develop a universe for Universal where its classic monster movie library is front and center. Kurtzman is also on board to direct and will produce alongside Morgan. Universal is not commenting on casting speculation regarding the project.

Jon Spaihts is penning the script. Plot details are vague other than it will be set in present day, unlike the previous three installments starring Brendan Fraser.

Cruise isn’t expected to produce, but he will play a major part in development. Characters from the monster universe films are expected to crop up in each other’s installments before culminating in an “Avengers”-style tie-in film.

Universal’s executive VP of production Jon Mone and director of development Jay Polidoro will oversee the project for the studio.

Cruise is currently filming “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.” Cruise was eyeing a reunion with Doug Liman on the space adventure “Luna Park,” but with Liman directing “Gambit” in the spring, Cruise’s schedule had an opening before he jumped into prep for “Mission: Impossible 6,” which shoots next August.

He is repped by CAA.

I am intrigued by the female mummy aspect. Might be a nice gender flip. I'd also rather it be more story driven than action BS... but I'm game for whatever as long as it's good. Cruise joining up does add more to it cuz he typically chooses cool shit to be in.

Sofia Boutella, who had a breakout role in Kingsman: The Secret Service, is in talks to play the titular role in Universal's The Mummy, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.

Yes, the monster in the new reboot will be female, as THR previously reported.

Tom Cruise is in negotiations to star in the modern-day set movie that Alex Kurtzman is helming and Universal will release March 24, 2017. Jon Spaihts wrote the script although plot details are being kept deep in the tomb. Kurtzman is producing with Chris Morgan and Sean Daniel.

Universal's The Mummy is planned as the first film in a series of interconnected monster films as Universal hopes to build a cinematic universe out of its vault of classic creature features. Other potential films revolve around the characters of Dracula, Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein, and vampire hunter Van Helsing.

A Universal spokesperson said the studio is not commenting on any casting speculation surrounding Mummy.

Boutella played the blade-legged assassin who serves as the henchman for Samuel L. Jackson's villain in Kingsman, Fox's breakout hit starring Colin Firth and Taron Egerton. She's a classically trained dancer who is known for hip hop and break-dancing, booking commercials for Nike and touring with Madonna.

Kingsman has catapulted her acting career, with her booking a role in Paramount’s Star Trek Beyond, directed by Justin Lin and most recently nabbing a part in The Coldest City, the spy thriller with Charlize Theron and James McAvoy that is in pre-production.

She is repped by CAA, 42 and Felker Toczek.

Universal's The Mummy is planned as the first film in a series of interconnected monster films as Universal hopes to build a cinematic universe out of its vault of classic creature features. Other potential films revolve around the characters of Dracula, Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein, and vampire hunter Van Helsing.

Now that Tom Cruise has officially signed on, Universal has set a new release date for its reboot of “The Mummy”: the film will bow on June 9, 2017.

Sofia Boutella is on board to play the classic monster with Alex Kurtzman directing.

Pic was originally set to bow on Mar. 24, 2017.

The studio tapped Kurtzman and Chris Morgan last summer to help develop a universe for Universal in which its classic monster movie library is front and center. Kurtzman is also on board to direct and will produce alongside Morgan as well as Sean Daniel.

Jon Spaihts is penning the script. Plot details are vague other than it will be set in present day, unlike the previous three installments starring Brendan Fraser.

Cruise isn’t expected to produce, but he will play a major part in development. Characters from the monster universe films are expected to crop up in each other’s installments before culminating in an “Avengers”-style tie-in film.

Universal’s executive VP of production Jon Mone and VP of development Jay Polidoro will oversee the project for the studio.

“He flipped out when he saw her” while watching Kingsman: The Secret Service, a friend of the 53-year-old actor told Life & Style. “He kept saying, ‘Who’s that girl? Get me that girl!'”

Now Boutella, 33, is in talks to star with Cruise in The Mummy thanks to the actor’s infatuation.

MARCH 07, 2016 2:46pm PT by Borys Kit
Annabelle Wallis in Talks to Join Tom Cruise in 'The Mummy'


The film is planned as the first feature in a series of interconnected monster movies.

Annabelle Wallis, one of the stars of the British gangster drama Peaky Blinders, is in talks to feature opposite Tom Cruise in The Mummy.

The Mummy is being directed by Alex Kurtzman and is planned as the first feature in a series of interconnected monster movies as the studio hopes to build a cinematic universe out of its vault of classic creature features.

Sofia Boutella, who had a breakout role in Kingsman: The Secret Service, is playing the titular role.

The storyline is set in the modern day with Cruise’s character to be a special forces soldier (or former soldier), sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. Wallis’ character is to be a scientist.

Kurtzman is producing Mummy with Chris Morgan and Sean Daniel. Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) wrote the screenplay

Executive vp Jon Mone and vp Jay Polidoro will oversee production on behalf of Universal.

Wallis is currently on screen opposite Sasha Baron Cohen in The Brothers Grimsby and will be seen in Guy Richie’s Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur. She also starred in horror thriller Annabelle.

Wallis is repped by UTA, Untitled Entertainment, Jackoway Tyerman, and UK’s United Agents.