"The Mummy" Reboot in Development

The Mummy is back: after the 2017 reboot of "The Mummy" didn't go down particularly well with fans and critics, it looks as though they're planning to give it another shot. Another reboot is currently in development.

And according to Variety, Lee Cronin, who already attracted attention with his bloody horror reboot "Evil Dead Rise" in 2023, will be in charge of this project.

In contrast to the iconic trilogy with Brendan Fraser and the unsuccessful 2017 attempt with Tom Cruise, the new movie will again focus more on the horror genre. Quote from the director:

"This will be unlike any "Mummy" movie you ever laid eyeballs on before. I'm digging deep into the earth to raise something very ancient and very frightening."

Behind the scenes is horror studio Blumhouse, known for hits such as "The Invisible Man" and the upcoming "Wolf Man" adaptation. "The Mummy" is scheduled for release on April 17, 2026.

The Story of The Mummy: From Horror Classic to Modern Adventure

For over a century, the legend of "The Mummy" has fascinated movie fans all over the world. The story of the ancient menace brought back to life has appeared on the big screen in many different forms – from horror to adventure to action.

The Beginnings: Universal's Classic from the 1930s

"The Mummy" (1932) by Karl Freund is one of the early milestones of horror cinema. With Boris Karloff as Imhotep, Universal Pictures created an iconic film that laid the foundation for the entire genre. The film told the tragic story of a priest who was cursed due to forbidden love and is resurrected centuries later to find his beloved.

The dark atmosphere, Karloff's impressive make-up and the innovative staging made "The Mummy" a classic that shared the status of movies such as "Dracula" (1931) and "Frankenstein" (1931).

The Adventurous Spirit of the 1990s: Brendan Fraser and the Trilogy

After decades of dormancy, the Mummy came back to life in the 1990s – but this time in a whole new guise. In 1999, Stephen Sommers brought "The Mummy" to cinemas, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. The film transformed the originally dark horror story into a fast-paced adventure that combined humorous dialog and spectacular effects.

The movie followed Rick O'Connell (Fraser), an intrepid adventurer, and Egyptologist Evelyn (Weisz), who accidentally bring the mummy Imhotep back to life. The mix of Indiana Jones-like adventures and supernatural horror was a huge success and grossed over 400 million dollars worldwide.

The sequel "The Mummy Returns" (2001) continued the story, introduced new threats such as the Scorpion King (Dwayne Johnson) and increased the action element. The series was concluded with "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" (2008). This movie moved the action to China and introduced Jet Li as the immortal emperor. Despite solid box office results and a new direction for the plot, the film was less enthusiastically received than its predecessors.

A Reboot Without Success: The Mummy (2017)

In 2017, Universal Pictures made a new attempt to revive the franchise. "The Mummy", directed by Alex Kurtzman and starring Tom Cruise, was to be the prelude to a coherent film universe called the Dark Universe. The aim was to reinterpret Universal's classic monster films – including "Dracula", "Frankenstein" and "The Invisible Man" – in a shared universe.

The film introduced the Mummy as Princess Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella), an ancient threat who is reawakened by a curse. Despite impressive effects and Cruise's star power, the movie failed with critics and audiences alike. The indecisive mix of action, horror and adventure failed to leave a lasting impression. The mediocre box office results ultimately also buried the plans for the Dark Universe.