Third time’s the charm? After a long run from the ’20s-’50s and a bring one in the late ’90s/early ’00s, Universal hasn’t had much luck in recent years with their attempts to revive their classic monsters. Neither 2010’s The Wolfman nor 2014’s Dracula Untold brought hope the bloody bacon, but that isn’t stopping the studio from trying once more. This summer sees the release of a new version of The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, and Russell Crowe. It is meant to kick off a new series of monster films, the first in their new “dark universe”, as this final trailer calls it…
This final preview leans heavier on the action/adventure elements than all previous ones, selling a film that will be as fun as it is thrilling. The CGI is plentiful, which is a bummer given the practical FX beginnings of both the Mummy and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, but it is to be expected. What matters more is how it fits in the film itself.
I have little doubt that fans of the original old school run continue to complain about this, much like the 1999 film, being action-oriented. While I agree to a certain degree, this was never not going to be an adventure film. Knowing this, all that I ask is that it be a GOOD horror-tinged adventure film. We’ll find out soon enough.
The Mummy is the first installment in Universal’s new monster cinematic universe. The film is directed by Alex Kurtzman, from a screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Christopher McQuarrie. The picture is produced by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Chris Morgan, and Sean Daniel. It stars Tom Cruise as ‘Nick Morton’, Sofia Boutella as ‘Princess Ahmanet’, Annabelle Wallis as ‘Jenny Halsey’, Russell Crowe as ‘Dr. Henry Jekyll’, Jake Johnson as ‘Sgt. Vail’, Courtney B. Vance as ‘Col. Greenway’, and Javier Botet as ‘Set’. Dylan Smith, Rez Kempton, Selva Rasalingam, Chasty Ballesteros, Marwan Kenzari, and Alaa Salf also appear.
The Mummy arrives in theaters on June 9th, 2017.
