Just yesterday we learned that Russell Crowe is in talks to play Dr. Jekyll opposite Tom Cruise in The Mummy, and while Universal has yet to confirm that casting, they have released the first official synopsis for the reboot. The plot description makes some hefty promises for Alex Kurtzman’s directorial debut, which is meant to kickstart a new shared universe of action-packed horror movies based on the studio’s classic monsters.
Universal sent out an official press release offering this synopsis for The Mummy, which “ushers in a new world of gods and monsters” — a reference to James Whale, the director of horror classics like Frankenstein and The Invisible Man:
Tom Cruise headlines a spectacular, all-new cinematic version of the legend that has fascinated cultures all over the world since the dawn of civilization: The Mummy.
Thought safely entombed in a crypt deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient queen (Sofia Boutella of Kingsman: The Secret Service and Star Trek Beyond) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.
From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.
That world also includes reboots of The Invisible Man (with Johnny Depp), The Wolf Man (from Prisoners scribe Aaron Guzikowski) and Bride of Frankenstein, among others. Universal has set Kurtzman and Fast & Furious vet Chris Morgan to oversee the creative direction of the new shared universe of monster flicks, which begins with The Mummy.
Tom Cruise is joined by Sofia Boutella (Kingsman), Annabelle Wallis (Annabelle), Jake Johnson (New Girl) and Courtney B. Vance (The People v. O.J. Simpson) in the reboot, which hits theaters on June 9, 2017.
Edge Of Tomorrow sequel has hired its writers, still no release estimate.
Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse have signed on to pen the sequel to Edge of Tomorrow.
The original was directed by Doug Liman and starred Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt as futuristic soldiers fending off an invasion by aliens with the ability to reset the day. The film was a critical favorite, grossing $370 million worldwide.
Cruise will return for the sequel, though Blunt’s involvement remains unclear. Christopher McQuarrie, who co-wrote the original’s screenplay and directed Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, is attached to direct.Sharpnel and Waterhouse’ credits including Jesse Owens biopic Race, and a rewrite of The Gray Man.
Edge of Tomorrow is based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s light novel All You Need Is Kill.
More news for The Mummy Reboot, via Variety:
Annabelle Wallis is in talks for the female lead in Universal’s “The Mummy,” starring Tom Cruise, sources tell Variety.
Wallis will play an archaeologist in the film. Sofia Boutella, meanwhile, is on board to play the iconic monster.
The film is set to bow on June 9, 2017.
The studio tapped Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan last summer to help develop a monster universe for Universal with rebooted versions of classic monster movies. Kurtzman is also on board to direct, and will produce alongside Morgan and Sean Daniel.
Jon Spaihts is penning the script. Plot details are vague other than the fact that the pic will be set in the present day, unlike the previous three installments starring Brendan Fraser.
Universal executive VP of production Jon Mone and VP of development Jay Polidoro will oversee the project for the studio.
Wallis is best known for her work in Steven Knight’s “Peaky Blinders.” She also starred in the 2014 horror pic “Annabelle” and the comedy “Brothers Grimsby.” Wallis will play Maid Maggie in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming King Arthur movie — set for release in 2017. She also recently wrapped Zack Whedon’s thriller “Come and Find Me” opposite Aaron Paul.
Tom Cruise did a surprise appearance at the BAFTA’s tonight to present the last award of the evening “Best Film” which went to The Revenant. Here are some pictures!
Jerry Bruckheimer posted a photo with Tom and mentions Top Gun 2 discussion!
Just got back from a weekend in New Orleans to see my old friend @TomCruise and discuss a little Top Gun 2. pic.twitter.com/vA2xK7S7JS
— JERRY BRUCKHEIMER (@BRUCKHEIMERJB) January 26, 2016
From Variety:
Bruckheimer produced “Top Gun,” the Oscar-winning 1986 action drama that starred Cruise as young Navy pilot Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.
Development of “Top Gun 2” was confirmed last year by Skydance CEO David Ellison, who also shared some details about the plot.
“It is very much a world we live in today where it’s drone technology and fifth generation fighters… It’s really exploring the end of an era of dogfighting and fighter pilots and what that culture is today,” said Ellison at a “Terminator Genisys” press junket last June. The exec also hinted that Cruise would be returning to reprise his role as Maverick. “There is an amazing role for Maverick in the movie, and there is no ‘Top Gun’ without Maverick, and it is going to be Maverick playing Maverick,” Ellison said.
Val Kilmer, who played Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazanski in the original, announced on Facebook in November that he was offered a role in the sequel as well, adding, “not often you get to say ‘yes’ without reading the script.”
New project for Tom! A Mummy reboot! And I’ll catch up on pics soon!
Now that Tom Cruise has officially signed on, Universal has set a new release date for its reboot of “The Mummy”: the film will bow on June 9, 2017.
Sofia Boutella is on board to play the classic monster with Alex Kurtzman directing.
Pic was originally set to bow on Mar. 24, 2017.
The studio tapped Kurtzman and Chris Morgan last summer to help develop a universe for Universal in which 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.
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 VP of development Jay Polidoro will oversee the project for the studio.
Possible new project for Tom! Via Variety:
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. 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.
VARIETY EXCLUSIVE. Mission: Impossible 6 may have found it’s director: Christopher McQuarrie.
Following the massive success of “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation,” Paramount and Skydance are hoping to stay in business with writer-director Christopher McQuarrie. According to sources close to the situation, McQuarrie will return to write “Mission: Impossible 6,” as well as possibly direct the next installment.
The studio and reps for McQuarrie have declined to comment, but several sources with knowledge of the situation say talks are progressing towards a deal being closed, with one insider saying that the studio plans to get production up and running by next August.
Tom Cruise is set to star with the studio also holding an option for Rebecca Ferguson to reprise her “Rogue Nation” role of Ilsa Faust. Cruise is currently filming “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” in New Orleans. Following the success of “Rogue Nation,” Paramount made it clear they wanted to move fast to get the next installment of the popular “M:I” franchise into production sometime next year.
If McQuarrie’s deal closes, it would mark a major milestone for the franchise, which has never had a director helm more than one installment.
While he has plenty in development, McQuarrie has nothing pressing on his slate that would impede him from working on an “M:I 6” script and prepping the film for a summer 2016 shoot.
Tom has started shooting Jack Reacher 2, which now has a title: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Tom Cruise has begun filming the sequel to Jack Reacher, it’s been confirmed.
Paramount and Skydance Entertainment have also announced that the title of the new movie is no longer Jack Reacher 2. Rather, it’s going by the name Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.
That confirms which of Lee Child’s source novels the movie is based on (the 18th in the series of books to date).
Edward Zwick, who previously directed Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai, is directing this one. Starring alongside Cruise are Cobie Smulders, Aldis Hodge, Patrick Heusinger, Austin Hebert and Danika Yorah.
Furthermore, the film also has its release date already. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is set to arrive in cinemas on October 21st 2016.
One more project for Tom, via Variety:
After saving the world from aliens and fighting the cartels, Tom Cruise and Doug Liman may be headed to outer space in the director’s long-in-the-works sci-fi pic.
Sources tell Variety that Cruise is joining Liman to develop sci-fi action pic “Luna Park” with an eye to star in the film for Paramount. It’s still early in the process and could go one way or the other depending on how the latest draft of the script comes out, but sources say this is a good sign for the project that had been in development limbo.
This has been a passion project of Liman’s for some time; it was prepared to move forward in 2011 with thesps like Chris Evans and Andrew Garfield circling leading roles. A greenlight had been given by Paramount, but the studio halted production after co-financier Skydance Pictures bailed on it because of a budget that was surpassing $100 million.
It’s unknown whether Skydance and Paramount still have a part to play with the film but given the relationship both companies have with Cruise following the success of “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation” and his upcoming sequel to “Jack Reacher,” signs are pointing to the studio getting behind the project yet again.
The plot revolves around a group of renegade employees who venture to the moon to steal an energy source.
When production would begin is still in question, as Cruise is about to start production on “Jack Reacher 2” and is expected to shoot another “Mission: Impossible” pic sometime next year.
Cruise is very particular about the directors he works with and looks to have become very comfortable with Liman after shooting “Edge of Tomorrow” for Warner Bros., which grossed more than $350 million worldwide, and the upcoming drug thriller “Mena,” which bows in January.
