4.32 PM Friday, 26 April 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:25 05:43 12:19 15:46 18:50 20:09
26 April 2024

Brendan Fraser out, Tom Cruise in to dig up 'The Mummy'

US actor Tom Cruise poses for photographers at a British screening of the film 'Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation' in London, Britain July 25, 2015. (Reuters)

Published
By Reuters

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 as well as Sean Daniel. 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.