Beiruting News

Tom Cruise is in talks to join a reboot of The Mummy, set for release in 2017, helping to launch Universal's new era of monster films.

Last summer, Universal Pictures commissioned Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan to develop a universe out of the studio's library of classic monster movies. The Mummy is the first of many films that will renew Universal's legacy of monsters, according to Variety.

Characters from other monster films will crop up in each installment, and the series will culminate in a final tie-in movie. Universal has not commented on casting speculation regarding The Mummy reboot.

Kurtzman is on board to direct the reboot and Jon Spaihts is writing the script. According to IMDB, the story is set in the present day, unlike the previous three installments starring Brendan Fraser, and follows navy Seal Tyler Colt on his mission in the Iraqi desert in search of a group of terrorists.

Cruise is not expected to produce the film, but will reportedly play a major part in the development. He is currently filming Jack Reacher: Never Go Back and will begin prep next year for Mission: Impossible 6, which shoots next August.