THE MUMMY (Update)

• THE MUMMY

Director Len Wiseman

Back in May, it was announced that Star Trek screenwriters/prolific producers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman would be developing reboots of both The Mummy and Van Helsing, with Tom Cruise attached to star in the latter.

Fan Made Mummy reboot poster

Now we can give an up date on the former project, The Mummy.

In subsequent interviews Kurtzman hinted at approaching the reboots with a darker tone than their original counterparts, and sure enough, Underworld and Total Recall director Len Wiseman is now being lined up to take the helm of The Mummy.

Prometheus co-writer Jon Spaihts is writing the script for the Mummy reboot, and Wiseman tells Deadline that he connected with the project’s darker take:

Fan MAde Mummy reboot poster

“When I first heard Universal was re-launching this, that is the image that popped into my head, the period tale, the old monster, but when Bob and Alex pitched it, there was a great new take and approach, and a very different mummy as well. It’s a darker twist on the material, a scarier version.”

Wiseman already has a professional relationship with Kurtzman and Orci as he helmed the pilot for their Hawaii Five-0 TV series reboot and he’s also set to direct the pilot for their Sleepy Hollow TV adaptation.

Kurtzman notes that they’re reaching into the roots of The Mummy with this reboot, and he adds that the original film  “at its beating heart is a horror movie and then an action movie.” 

Universal is eyeing a 2014 release date for the film, meaning that production will have to begin at some point next year.