Universal is currently in the process of reviving and updating all of their classic movie monsters, starting withThe Mummy, in the hopes of developing a shared universe. The first trailer forTom Cruise’sThe Mummydebuted last night, and it will be the first movie in this saga. Until the release of this sneak peek, there had been speculation and rumors thatLuke Evans’Dracula Untoldwill also be included. But that idea has been put to bed completely.
DirectorAlex Kurtzmanrecently attended a press event for the release of the firstMummytrailer and he was asked point blank aboutDracula Untoldbeing a part of this new universe. AsScreenRanttells it, he very simply said “no.” A couple of months ago we reported thatLuke Evanshad some conversations about potentially reprising his role as Dracula in this new universe and he seemed quite open to it. Here is what he had to say during an interview with Latino Review.
“There have been talks and conversations. I think the bigger picture is exciting for all the monsters that they own. There is talk about it. I just don’t know how it will all manifest itself. I think it will happen and I think they’re just working out how these monsters interact and how they end up in the same realm with each other. If they can stick Captain America in a scene with Iron Man and Thor, I think you can definitely put Wolf Man, the Invisible Man, The Mummy and Dracula in the same film as well.”
At the end ofDracula Untold, there was a little bit that would have allowed forLuke Evans' Dracula to interact with other monsters in the present day, butAlex Kurtzmanmade it clear that was a false start at best. It will be his new take onThe Mummythat truly kicks off thisnew cinematic universe. However, he did expand on his thoughts on this new universe a bit during the press conference, saying that he doesn’t want to weigh down his movie with a bunch of setup. He simply wants to make a good movie with characters people like. Here is what he had to say.
“I believe strongly that the only way you can build a universe is not to start by trying to build a universe. If you want to get there, the only way you’re going to get there is if the audience allows you to get there. Meaning, you have to do great individual films first. The audience has to fall in love with those movies first, and those characters first, and if they do and you develop an organic story reason to start bringing them together, great! But you can’t start with ‘Let’s just mash everybody together’…In order for you to enjoy The Mummy, you have to have a satisfying mummy experience. If we are then in that context able to set up a larger world? Great! But the setup of that larger world and whatever characters [star Tom Cruise] may meet over the course of the mummy movie have to be part of the mummy movie. It cannot take you out of that.”
Alex Kurtzmanseems to understand what made the Marvel Cinematic Universe work so well. Other studios, most notably Warner Bros. with the DC Extended Universe, are trying to cobble together a cinematic universe of their own, but Universal seems to have the right idea. Marvel started withIron Man, a movie that totally stood on its own and had characters that people really connected with. That allowed them to expand things much more organically. On the flip side, something likeBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justicewas so concerned with universe building that the movie became a bit of a mess. It sounds likeThe Mummywill be taking theIron Manapproach.
There are still references to the largerUniversal Monsters UniverseinThe Mummytrailer and it seems likeRussel CroweasDr. Jekyllwill provide some connective tissue. But based on how it was presented in the trailer, it seems to serve the story in a logical and natural way. Dracula is probably destined to join up withTom Cruiseon screen at some point, assuming audiences respond to this first movie, but it won’t beLuke Evansplaying him. At the moment, universal has also tappedJohnny Deppto playThe Invisible ManandJavier Bardemis rumored to star in a newFrankensteinmovie as well.The Mummyis set for release on June 10, 2025.
