Alex Kurtzman to direct new film based on The Mummy

By Rick Marshall July 31, 2014

universal the mummy reboot tom cruise boris karloff — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Universal Pictures is reportedly in talks with veteran genre writer/producer Alex Kurtzman to direct The Mummy, a film that will lay the groundwork for a new, cohesive cinematic universe for the studio’s classic monster franchises.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kurtzman is in final negotiations with the studio to helm the film, which is described as an action-adventure story with horror elements. The movie won’t be connected with any of the previous films based on The Mummy, and is expected to be set in the present day rather than being a period piece.

Along with potentially directing the film, Kurtzman will also co-produce the project with Fast & Furious writer/producer Chris Morgan. Kurtzman and his former collaborator Roberto Orci most recently revised the script for the film, which was initially penned by Jon Spaihts (who’s currently working on the script for Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange movie).

“Over the course of developing The Mummy, Alex has demonstrated such clarity and passion about this character and mythology,” said Jeff Kirschenbaum, Universal’s Co-President of Production. “He knows why The Mummy has fascinated us for so long and how to bring that into an inventive, incredible new adventure. It became obvious that he is the perfect choice to be not only one of the narrative engineers of this new vision but its director as well.”

While Kurtzman has a long resume as a writer and producer for recent franchises like The Transformers, Star Trek, and The Amazing Spider-Man, his only feature film as a director thus far is 2012’s People Like Us. He’s also attached to write and direct the upcoming Venom spinoff film in Sony’s Amazing Spider-Man movie universe.

The Mummy is currently scheduled to hit theaters April 22, 2016.

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…

Entertainment

Zero Contact’s Rick Dugdale on directing an NFT film during the pandemic

Chris Brochu, Aleks Paunovic, TJ Kayama, Veronica Ferres, and Martin Stenmarck videochatting in a scene from Zero Contact.

For a project virtually constructed and directed over Zoom, there isn't a more appropriate name for the film Zero Contact. Produced in 17 different countries during the global pandemic, Zero Contact is a thriller that focuses on the dangers of high-tech in a virtual world. Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs) stars as Finley Hart, an unconventional genius behind a global data-mining program. When Hart suddenly dies, five strangers are digitally called upon to continue Hart's work, which is an initiative that involves time travel. However, outside forces begin to stalk and harm each of the five people, forcing the group to decide whether to finish the mission at the risk of their own lives.

Directed by Rick Dugdale, Zero Contact is billed as the "world's first feature film NFT event." The film can be purchased as an NFT through Vuele, a platform that specializes in collecting and trading feature film NFTs and their subsequent content. In a conversation with Digital Trends, Dugdale spoke about the challenges of directing over Zoom, how he convinced Anthony Hopkins to join the cast, shooting part of the sequel in Antarctica, and what the future holds for Vuele and feature film NFTs.

Entertainment

The best A24 horror films, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes

Florence Pugh stars in Midsommar from A24.

With the release of Men on May 24, and Bodies Bodies Bodies scheduled for August 5, celebrated indie studio A24 looks to add several more well-regarded horror films to their canon of contemporary classics. Indeed, as with many of their previous horror releases, Men is already "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 82%. And Bodies Bodies Bodies boasts an early review score of 93% on the site.

Given the critical success earlier this year of X, as well as the smash success of their non-horror film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, 2022 appears to be another banner year for the studio, especially on the horror front. Considering that they've produced and/or distributed so many films in just the last few years, it's been an impressive run of cinematic quality overall. Here are the best A24 horror films according to Rotten Tomatoes.
10. The Hole in the Ground (2019) – 83%

Entertainment

Michael Giacchino will direct Marvel’s new Halloween special

The cover for Werewolf By Night.

Composer Michael Giacchino is in the rare position of having two of his films in the current top five at the box office, thanks to The Batman and the staying power of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Now, Giacchino is expanding his reach by directing a new live-action project for Marvel Studios.

Via The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel has signed the renowned composer to helm a one-hour Halloween special for Disney+ that is reportedly based upon Marvel's Werewolf by Night comic book. This won't be Giacchino's first time in the director's chair, but it is by far the biggest project he has ever helmed. Giacchino previously directed an episode of Star Trek: Short Treks and his own short film, Monster Challenge.