(Left) (L to R) Director Lee Cronin on the set of New Line Cinema’s horror film ‘Evil Dead Rise,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Right) 2017’s ‘The Mummy’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Preview:
- Lee Cronin will direct a new ‘Mummy’ movie.
- Blumhouse and Atomic Monster are co-financing the film.
- It’ll arrive via New Line in 2026.
Having cut his teeth –– or perhaps that should be fangs –– on short films, Dublin-born filmmaker Lee Cronin stepped up to directing features with anthology ‘Minutes Past Midnight’ and then ‘The Hole in the Ground.’
But he really impressed with last year’s ‘Evil Dead Rise,’ which relocated Sam Raimi’s Deadites to a city high rise and saw a family dealing with the dreadful threat. That movie, which was shot on a low budget, made more than $150 million worldwide.
Though there had been talk of Cronin cooking up a direct sequel to the movie, it appears he’s pivoting –– at least for now –– to a different horror subject.
The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Cronin will next write and direct a new take on ‘The Mummy.’
The movie was originally announced by Blumhouse and Cronin earlier this year as a mystery project via an Instagram post that covered the script’s title.
Given how effective ‘Evil Dead Rise’ was, we’re intrigued to see what he does when let loose on another classic terror subject.
Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Evil Dead Rise’
What’s the story of ‘The Mummy’?
1999’s ‘The Mummy’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
The ‘Mummy’ movies draw from the fascination with Egyptian burial rituals, and the curse surrounding those who would disturb the tombs.
Back in 1932, Universal Studios started the long-running mummy franchise with ‘The Mummy.’ The movies, usually starring Boris Karloff focused on the story of an ancient prince who was accidently brought back to life after being buried alive many years earlier. The Mummy haunts those under his curse including his forbidden lover.
The original mummy movie was remade three times with similar characters but always a slightly shifted storyline.
Various sequels followed, and of course the studio couldn’t let the subject lie in its cine-tomb.
Most famously –– and well-received –– in terms of revivals was Stephen Sommers’ 1999 effort, ‘The Mummy,’ which starred Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz as an adventurer and a librarian who go seeking an architectural dig and end up unleashing the terror of Imhotep (played in this case by Arnold Vosloo).
Two sequels followed: ‘The Mummy Returns’ (2001) and ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ (2008), the latter directed by Rob Cohen.
A spinoff series titled ‘The Scorpion King’ (2002) followed that, telling the story of Mathayus (Dwayne Johnson) and his rise to become the Scorpion King. That brought us three sequels: ‘The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior’ (2008), ‘The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption’ (2012) and ‘The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power’ (2015).
Most recently, Universal looked to try again, aiming to bring the creature back to life, as Alex Kurtzman directed ‘The Mummy’ starring Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella and Annabelle Wallis.
The intent was to launch a new linked cinematic franchise hyped as the Dark Universe, though the poor reception for that first movie meant that plan was scuppered. Universal has since switched to filmmaker-focused standalone films.
Outside Universal, Hammer Films did its own ‘Mummy’ movie in 1959 that starred Christopher Lee.
Given that the Mummy concept is in the public domain, it was only a matter of time before someone else took on the challenge, but we’ve yet to learn exactly what elements Cronin will exploit in his effort.
This is what Cronin has said about the new movie:
“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.”
Who is backing the new movie?
(L to R) Director Lee Cronin and Alyssa Sutherland on the set of New Line Cinema’s horror film ‘Evil Dead Rise,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Blumhouse are co-financing the film. Producing are Wan, Jason Blum and John Keville. Executive producing are Michael Clear, Judson Scott and Macdara Kelleher. Alayna Glasthal is the executive overseeing the project for Atomic Monster.
Wan, of course, is no stranger to horror and horror franchises, since he’s the man behind the likes of the ‘Conjuring’ movies and the sprawling ‘Saw’ series.
Blumhouse, meanwhile, has been cranking out thriftily-budgeted films for a few years now ever since Blum took a shot on buying ‘Paranormal Activity’ and saw huge returns.
Next year alone, the company will bring us a wide variety of movies including ‘M3GAN 2.0,’ ‘Wolf Man’ (another fresh take on a Universal horror classic) and ‘The Black Phone 2.’
But unlike the previous incarnations, New Line will release the new Mummy movie.
When will the new ‘Mummy’ stalk on to screens?
According to the Blumhouse team, Cronin’s new movie is scheduled for an April 17th, 2026 release.
Sofia Boutella in 2017’s ‘The Mummy’. Photo: Universal Pictures.