Earlier today, the hot rumor was that Universal’s planned Monsterverse was going to bring in Tom Cruise as the star of The Mummy reboot. Cruise would have actually been a great choice to headline the franchise, but Universal is just going to have to find someone else to star in the film.

Cruise’s representatives and even Universal itself have swiftly responded to The Mummy rumors by adamantly denying them. Cruise is filming Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and the current plan is for him to begin filming Mission: Impossible 6 next summer. That wouldn’t have left a lot of time for The Mummy, if Cruise had actually been lined up for it.

The Mummy is expected to begin principal photography in February 2016 in order to meet its March 24, 2017 release date. Make no mistake, there is a lot riding on this film and not a lot of time to make it come together. Universal is attempting emulate the Marvel Cinematic Universe and bring all of its classic monsters together in a shared world. If The Mummy can’t bring in a massive audience then those plans could die in the cradle. That kind of failure would bring new meaning to “the curse of the Mummy.”

Although the rumors linking Cruise to The Mummy didn’t pan out, it makes sense that Universal would want to anchor the film around an established box office draw. The story details are currently under wraps (I swear that’s not pun), but the film will reportedly take place in the present. Back in 1999, Brendan Fraser starred in the last reboot of The Mummy, which took place in the ‘30s and led to two sequels and a spinoff featuring the Scorpion King, a character originated by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Who should headline the new reboot of The Mummy? Lift the enchantments and share your opinions below!

—

HT: Deadline

Image Credit: Paramount Pictures/Skydance Productions