Let’s get some things straight right away: Brendan Fraser is not in ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.’ Tom Cruise is not in ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.’ And, oddly enough, there really isn’t a mummy in ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.’ Although this movie, produced by James Wan‘s Atomic Monster banner and Blumhouse Films, eschews the action-adventure strains of the Fraser and Cruise variations, its return to the IP’s horror roots is still missing the classic image of a hulking, bandaged corpse slowly shambling after its victims.
In its place is a plot loosely linked to the Egyptian monster of yore, as well as a bunch of scenes and ideas either pulled from or inspired by other horror movies, ranging from the classic ‘The Exorcist’ to the more recent ‘Bring Her Back’ to Cronin’s own ‘Evil Dead Rise.’ But even though the film is nasty, viciously bloody, and wildly bonkers in its third act, a sloppy, strung-together script all but buries ‘The Mummy.’
TV reporter Charlie Cannon (Jack Reynor) and his doctor wife Larissa (Lola Costa), along with their young son Sebastian and daughter Katie, are living in Cairo, Egypt, while Charlie is on assignment there. But then Katie vanishes after being lured to the edge of their backyard by a mysterious woman (Hayat Kamille) – a woman glimpsed in the film’s prologue when something stirs in a sarcophagus on her family’s property.
Eight years later, the Cannons have long since returned to the U.S. and live in Albuquerque, where Charlie is a local news producer. Little daughter Maud (Billie Roy) has since been born as well, but no trace of Katie has ever been uncovered. Then the Cannons get a call from Cairo: Katie has been found, alive, wrapped in bandages in that same sarcophagus from the opening, after the plane it’s being transported on crashes.
But as the Cannons soon discover, Katie barely resembles the sweet little girl who disappeared nearly a decade ago. Her skin, nails, and hair desiccated, her body gnarled and contorted, and Katie herself incapable of speech, her survival hardly seems like a miracle. And in fact it’s not: before long, Katie begins behaving in bizarre, dangerous ways, as a malignant presence exerts its influence on the Cannons and threatens to destroy the family.
‘The Mummy’ is one of those movies in which the audience quickly gets so far ahead of the characters that the whole narrative rapidly turns increasingly ludicrous. From the start, it’s clear that something is horribly wrong with Katie; the doctors who let her go home should have their licenses revoked, and she has no business being home so soon. Yet as grotesque as she is, it takes a long time for the Cannons to wake up.
After one particularly brutal outburst of violence, Charlie suggests that it might be time to send Katie elsewhere for round-the-clock professional care. ‘Do you think I’m incapable of caring for my daughter?’ asks Larissa, almost comically unreasonable in light of current events. The whole middle act is a rinse-repeat of Katie doing something violent or gross, with the family simply waiting for the next incident.
Charlie finally investigates the circumstances of Katie’s disappearance with the help of an Egyptian detective (May Calamawy) who was initially on the case in Cairo. Meanwhile, things get progressively worse at the Cannons’ place, leading to a gruesome scene involving coyotes and an in-house wake that turns into a display of vomiting, blood, guts, and the lapping of embalming fluid – and still Katie remains at home.
(L to R) Natalie Grace as Katie and Veronica Falcon as Carmen in New Line Cinema’s, Atomic Monster’s and Blumhouse’s ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’. Photo: Patrick Redmond. A Warner Bros. Pictures Release.
There is some truly shocking gore in ‘The Mummy,’ and in fact the film is a kissing cousin aesthetically and visually to ‘Evil Dead Rise.’ Cronin is nothing if not mean-spirited when it comes to doling out the onscreen pain, and between that and a few creepy sequences in the house (which, we must note, is at least the third domicile we’ve seen on film this year with full passageways in its walls – what’s with the builders in these movies?), ‘The Mummy’ does have some schlock horror value.
Terrific sound design and a series of unnerving split diopter shots give it an added boost as well. But in the end, ‘The Mummy’ is too sloppily structured as a story for us to care about this family and its fate, and it also turns out – expository lore aside – to not really be a mummy movie at all, but another, all too familiar type of horror movie.
Jack Reynor is serviceable if rather bland as Charlie, the actor capable of either wide-eyed alarm or heavy-lidded shock. His everyman demeanor helps but his character, like the others, is too thinly sketched in to feel real. Reynor and Laia Costa as Larissa have zero chemistry as a married couple, while Verónica Falcón provides some comic relief as the family’s Abuelita.
We did like May Calamawy’s haunted detective, but the best performance is by Natalie Grace as the older Katie. Laden with unsettling prosthetics, making death-rattle sounds in her throat and throwing her body around like a graduate of the Regan MacNeil school for possessed children, Grace is creepily effective and actually hard to look at for long.
Final Thoughts
May Calamawy as detective Dalia Zaki in New Line Cinema’s, Atomic Monster’s and Blumhouse’s ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’. Photo Credit: Photo by Patrick Redmond. A Warner Bros. Pictures Release.
Look, there have been loads of mummy movies, and many of the older ones are rather dull quickies in which a stuntman (or Lon Chaney Jr. or Christopher Lee) shuffles around in dirt-caked wrappings and makeup. The more recent attempts channel an Indiana Jones vibe, so it’s nice to see the property done as a proper horror movie again, and credit to Cronin for at least trying to give it a new spin to some degree.
But it’s still not the scary mummy movie we’ve been hoping for, and in fact it’s another kind of horror film entirely once the bandages fall away – which is ironic, because early viewers apparently think it’s going to be a new Brendan Fraser entry. Yet despite its visual flourishes and admittedly effective jolts of blood and guts, ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’ doesn’t pay enough attention to its story or characters to make its overlong, two-hour-and-15-minute runtime feel like anything but an eternity.
The young daughter of a journalist disappears into the desert without a trace – but eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare.
(L to R) Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in ‘The Mummy.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
Preview:
A new entry in ‘The Mummy’ franchise is in development.
Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are in talks to return to their roles.
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett will direct for Universal.
Back in 1999, Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz delivered a great on-screen partnership as dashing, roguish hero Rick O’Connell and practical English Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan for ‘The Mummy.’
Fraser returned for two sequels and Weisz for one (more on that below), but since then, fans have wanted to know if they might both be back, given their winning chemistry.
Things went dormant after that (aside from an ill-fated attempt to launch a Classic Monsters Cinematic Universe with the Tom Cruisereboot in 2017, and more recent reports of ‘Evil Dead Rise’s Lee Cronin developing a new take), but the signs and portents are pointing to a return for the original duo.
As for the new movie, it’ll have a script from David Coggeshall (‘The Family Plan’) and while details are mostly being kept in a sarcophagus, the Reporter’s sources are suggesting that it’ll be a sequel that wipes away the events of ‘Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.’ Okay by us!
Where else can we see Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz?
(L to R) Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in ‘The Mummy.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
Fraser won an Oscar for 2022’s ‘The Whale’ and will next be seen in heartwarming drama ‘Rental Family,’ which lands in theaters on November 21.
The new opening also includes the Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel. The Helios Grand has its own dedicated entrance into Epic Universe (theme park admission required), and offers guests early entry into the park.
Moviefone had the pleasure of traveling to Orlando, Florida, for a special preview of Epic Universe ahead of its grand opening on May 22, 2025 to experience all five lands and their attractions, shows, and more.
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Epic Universe is Universal Orlando’s fourth theme park, not far from Universal Studios Orlando. It houses five brand new lands, including Celestial Park, How To Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Epic Universe’s theming is inspired by the heavens, stars, and constellations, and once guests step through the towering Emerald Gate and Chronos device, they will find themselves in Celestial Park. From there, they will be able to access the four other portals leading them into various lands.
During the media preview week, there was an opening ceremony for each of the portals. As the Chrono device “powered up” to open the portal, the characters of the respective land would appear, along with music, pyro, fire, smoke, and sometimes confetti to welcome guests. While these portal opening ceremony is not likely to happen once Epic Universe is officially open, it was exciting to see the efforts put in by Epic Universe to make entering each portal a unique experience during the media preview.
Epic Theme Park, Epic Hotel
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
The new Helios Grand Hotel sits on the Epic Universe property, and is said to be the most unique hotels in the world. In partnership with Lowes Hotel, the Helio Grand has 500 rooms including 35 suites. The best perk of staying here would be its dedicated entrance right into Epic Universe.
Upon walking into the Helio Grand Hotel, you’re met with the view of massive windows that lookout into the theme park. The hotel’s theming is parallel to what you’d see in Celestial Park, making the transition from one place to the next smooth and flawless. Dining options includes the restaurant Flora Taverna on the main floor, Bar Helio that offers a stunning 360 degree view, and the poolside Lotus Lagoon.
During media preview, Executive Chairman of Loews Hotel & Co Jonathan Tisch proudly mentions that the Helio Grand Hotel makes the 11th hotel on Universal Property, “On Universal campus now, we have 11 hotels, 11 thousand rooms, and with our partners at Comcast and NBCU, it really is a remarkable partnership”
Jonathan Tisch talks about getting the phone call that started the Helios Grand Hotel project
“We got a call to build a hotel but this time it’s a bit different. You’re looking at this amazing amusement park, and this hotel, the Helios is one of the most unique hotels in the world. Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort – It really is just a a project that we’ve been in talk for a long time. So we’ve been very busy at those hotels. We’ve opened up three hotels of three and a half miles here, all in anticipation of this weekend in the amazing opening that we’ll all see soon. On Universal campus now, we have 11 hotels, 11 doves and rooms, and with our partners are Comcast and NBCU. It really is a remarkable partnership.”
What Can You Find In Celestial Park?
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Celestial Park houses a gorgeous and lush garden, the Cosmos fountain, the Constellation Carousel, and the dual-track rollercoaster Stardust Racers. There are several dining and shopping options located throughout. This portion of Epic Universe serves as the crossroads that leads to the four other lands within. Using a hub-and-spoke layout, guests can travel in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to their next destination. At times, Celestial Park can feel like a maze with its ever extending gardens and ponds.
While Celestial Park isn’t themed to any particular IP, the attractions here should not be overlooked. The Constellation Carousel takes guests on a different carousel experience, as the celestial creature ride vehicles also spin, making one feel like they’re moving in different directions instead of the usual 360 degrees on a classic merry-go-around.
The Stardust Racer rollercoaster is hard to miss. The retro-themed coaster stands tall at 133 feet and features dual tracks. The Stardust Racer will launch guests from 0 to 62 MPH, taking riders high into the sky before descending into a series of drops and twists, while crisscrossing with the other track. Both tracks offer a slightly different experience, with the Yellow track offering more twists while the Green track has more drops and dips. The ride is designed to look like comets in the sky, and it truly takes on that feeling with a night ride. The tracks are not lit, so the only lights are coming from the ride vehicles themselves.
For dining, there are two full-service restaurants and a few quick-service options. The full service restaurants are the Atlantic and the Blue Dragon. The Atlantic offers a variety of seafood fare and is themed to its aquatic name, with large floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook Neptune’s Pool. The Blue Dragon serves up Asian-inspired dishes, and the decor features neon light signage and motifs inspired by East and Southeast Asia. There is also a variety of quick service options that are spread throughout.
What Can You Find In Isle of Berk?
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
The Isle of Berk immerse guests into the world of Dreamwork’s ‘How To Train Your Dragon’. Upon entering through the portal, you are met with towering stone statues of a Viking and a dragon. In this land, you’ll find 30 animatronic dragons, as well as three rides and a live stage show. You will also meet characters from the film, including Hiccup, Astrid, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Gobber, and of course, Toothless himself. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for adorable baby dragons who will play a game of “Toothless Says”.
The three rides in Isle of Berk consist of Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Dragon Racer’s Rally, and Fyre Drill. There is also the live stage show “The Untrainable Dragon”, which is unlike any theme park stage show. In “The Untrainable Dragon”, the Vikings encounter a new troublesome dragon that is causing mayhem in the village. Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid must find a way to calm the dragon before it causes more destruction. The show features dance and musical numbers, but best of all, Hiccup and Toothless will soar over the audience during the show. This is a must-see!
Dining options in Isle of Berk includes the Mead Hall, which also happens to be the tallest building in the land. Mead Hall offers quick service and has a variety meats, fish, sandwiches, desserts, and drinks. Other dining options include Spit Fyre Grill and Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel where you can find the Instagramable Dragon Fire Chicken Spire mac-and-cheese cone.
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What Can You Find In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic?
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
While Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure already house both Diagon Alley and Hogsmead, there is still much to explore in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Epic Universe. As you walk through the towering wand-topped portal, you suddenly find yourself in 1920s Paris. This land is connected to the “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them” franchise, where magical creatures from the film can be found in various shop windows and entertainment.
The main attraction in this land is the “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry” ride. For the first time, guests will be able to experience the Métro-Floo as they walk through the green tunnel. Stepping through the mist, you’ll find yourself at the British Ministry of Magic.
The official synopsis for “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry” is:
Travel by Métro-Floo from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic™ where Dolores Umbridge™ is about to stand trial. Board a lift and join Harry, Ron, and Hermione as you journey deep into the Ministry’s many departments. Thrilling adventure, fantastic beasts, and unexplored mystery await in Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry™.
This ride queue is the most impressive of all lands at Epic Universe. As you come out of the Métro-Floo tunnels, you’re met with the massive atrium of the British Ministry of Magic and its many floors of offices. At the center stands the Fountain of Magical Brethren. The sight is truly impressive. Proceeding through the line queue, you’ll walk through the Magical Archives library, the Aurors’ locker room, and Dolores Umbridge’s office.
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
For the ride itself, guests will board the magical omnidirectional lift as it makes its way to Umbridge’s trial. As she attempts to escape, the lift, along with Harry, Hermione, and Ron, give chase throughout the Ministry. The ride has a combination of screens and practice sets, similar to “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey”. What sets this ride apart is the seamless flow from screen to set and the detailed animatronics found throughout. The immersive storytelling combined with the technologies used for Battle at the Ministry make this attraction a must for Harry Potter fans.
Within this land, you can find “Cirque de Arcanus”, a live show featuring cirque acts and fantastic beasts in large puppetry form. With special effects and intricate set designs, guests will feel surrounded by the magic of the Wizarding World.
There is much to explore within the wizarding city of Paris. Arm yourself with an interactive wand and put your skills to the test with the many spell-casting spots in front of the storefronts throughout this land. Stop by Café L’air De La Sirène for a butterbeer crepe
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What Can You Find In Dark Universe?
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
It’s Alive! As guests step through the portal for Dark Universe, they are transported to the village of Darkmoor, a haunting village where the classic Universal Monsters roam. The gothic decor and fog effects sets the mood. The crackles and hum of electricity from Victoria Frankenstein’s experiments can be heard throughout. As you travel further into the land, you’ll come across Frankenstein Manor, a dark castle looming over Darkmoor. The manor houses the main attraction of Dark Universe, “Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment”.
The official synopsis for “Monsters Unchained” is:
Dr. Victoria Frankenstein continues the work of her ancestors deep below the family estate. A demonstration of her experiments to control monsters goes awry when Dracula leads a revolt of enraged monsters including The Wolf Man, The Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon and more.
Monsters Unchained has two pre-shows, with the latter showing off the incredible animatronics of Victoria Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s Monster 2.0. Their movements are fluid and lifelike, giving a guest just a taste of what they’ll encounter on the ride.
The ride vehicle operates very similarly to “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey,” but the vehicle’s movement is more extreme and intense than Forbidden Journey. In comparison, Monsters Unchain boasts more practice sets and animatronics than screenings. As the ride vehicles, operated by Igor, navigates through the catacombs deep beneath the manor, guests will come face-to-face with Dracula and his brides, the Mummy, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. These larger-than-life animatronics are extremely detailed and truly frightening as the ride vehicle brings you within inches of them.
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
There is so much happening on this ride, and each seat offers a slightly different view as certain animatronic figures pop out at a different timing. Monsters Unchained is the best ride in Epic Universe, and worth experiencing multiple times as you will definitely notice something you different than the previous ride.
Aside from Monsters Unchained, there’s also the spinning rollercoaster “Curse of the Werewolf”. The ride vehicle travels at 37 MPH on back and forth motion while the seat vehicles spin. The spinning motion can vary depending on the weight distribution of each ride vehicle. The coaster is thrilling but nowhere as intense as Stardust Racers or even Hiccup’s Wing Gliders.
Official synopsis for “Curse of the Werewolf”:
Maleva, leader of The Guild of Mystics, welcomes you to a secluded wagon camp. Here you’re warned of the creatures who prowl the deep woods. Before long you’re riding Curse of the Werewolf – surrounded by glowing eyes and gnashing teeth, you’ll spin and weave through the forest as you attempt to escape a pack of werewolves.
Guests can encounter characters such as Igor as he roams around Darkmoor, or meet Frankenstein and the Bride in their designated meet and greet area.
Dining options include the Burning Blade Tavern, which has a rotating windmill that is lit ablaze seversal times a day. The Tavern serves up a variety of burgers, chicken, small bites, and beverage.
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What Can You Find in Super Nintendo World?
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Super Nintendo World first made its way to Universal Studios Hollywood in 2023. This is where you can find “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge”. What sets the Super Nintendo World apart in Epic Universe is a brand new area featuring Donkey Kong. This marks the debut of Donkey Kong Country in the United States.
Donkey Kong Country transports guests into the jungle where you can find “Mine-Cart Madness”. Board the mine cart and enter the Golden Temple to protect the Golden Banana, but watch out for the rickety tracks.
Official synopsis for Mine-Cart Madness:
It’s up to you to help Donkey Kong protect the Golden Banana on Mine-Cart Madness™. Enter the majestic Golden Temple, board your mine cart and take off in this thrilling family coaster. Speeding through the mine, you’ll appear to jump across gaps in the track and perform other eye-popping feats from the Donkey Kong Country video games.
As the mine carts rushes through the Golden Temple, you’ll notice some of the tracks have collapsed but there is no stopping. The mine cart makes leaps over the missing tracks, and makes this ride exciting and sometimes a little scary. The ride will not only take you through the temple, but also over water and through the jungle. For those visiting the park with a Power-Up band or tracking your progress through Universal Orlando app, this is how you can acquire the Golden Banana stamp.
While you’re in Donkey Kong Country, stop by The Bubbly Barrel stall to try the DK Crush Float, which is served with a pineapple banana soft serve with a waffle cone. It sounds extremely sugary but it’s just the right level of sweetness and very refreshing. You have the option to get it with or without the souvenir DK barrel mug.
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
The other new attraction at Super Nintendo World is Yoshi’s Adventure. This is a much slower paced ride than Mine-Cart Madness, perfect for all-ages. The track also gives you a scenic aerial view of Super Nintendo World. Guests will board a Yoshi ride vehicle as it takes you through various scenes in search of all three Yoshi Eggs. Each vehicle is equipped with three egg-shaped buttons. When you spot a blue, pink, or green Yoshi Egg, press the corresponding color button. This is how you can acquire the Golden Egg stamp.
The rides at Super Nintendo World are fun but not as detailed or thrilling as the other lands. Still, this land is extremely interactive, especially if you have a Power-Up Band to collect stamps and play mini-games.
You can find several food options including Toadstool Cafe, which boasts wide variety from pasta to soups to sandwiches. There are a ton of seating and a perfect way to escape the heat on a hot day.
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Epic Universe is changing the game when it comes to theme parks. The attention to detail in each land has elevated the experience. When you’re in any specific land, you forget that you’re a part of a larger theme park. Whether you step into the Isle of Berk or Dark Universe, you’re immediately enveloped by the theming and decor. You won’t even notice the other portals towers from the other lands even though they stand tall. For the most part, each land is filled with interactive experiences so if there are plenty to do aside from the rides and shows.
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe and Helio Grand Hotel is now officially open to the public.
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Movies that inspired Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe:
Rachel Weisz in ‘The Mummy.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
Preview:
Rachel Weisz will star in new limited series ‘Vladimir.’
The adaptation of Julia May Jonas’s 2022 novel is based at Netflix.
Kate Robin is running the show.
Limited series based on novels have become big business in the streaming era, with the likes of HBO, Hulu and particularly Netflix getting in on the action.
The latest to be announced by the latter is an adaptation of Julia May Jonas’s 2022 novel ‘Vladimir,’ which has now landed Rachel Weisz to star and executive produce.
And Jonas will also be involved –– she’ll serve as creator and will have a writing gig on the eventual series, alongside Kate Robin, who will run the show. Robin is a veteran of shows such as ‘Dead to Me’ on Netflix as well as Showtime’s ‘The Affair’ and Prime Video’s ‘One Mississippi.’
We’re promised a blend of dark comedy and sexy fun times –– albeit with some serious consequences.
Rachel Weisz in ‘The Mummy.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
If you were looking for details on the plot of this one, it’s official logline time!
“As a beloved English professor faces a slew of accusations against her professor husband by former students — she becomes obsessed with her captivating new colleague. Full of sexy secrets, dark humor and complex characters, ‘Vladimir’ is about what happens when a woman goes hell-bent to turn her fantasies into reality.”
Behind the scenes and beyond Jonas and Robin, the series boasts quite the team, with ‘Catastrophe’ and ‘Bad Sisters’ creator Sharon Horgan as an executive producer alongside Stacy Greenberg and Kira Carstensen of her Merman production company. Jason Winer and Jon Radler are also producers on behalf of Small Dog Picture Company, while 20th Television will make the series itself.
‘Vladimir’: The Studio and Producers Talk
Netflix logo. Photo: Netflix.
Here’s what Tracey Pakosta, vice president of comedy series at Netflix had to say about the new series:
“With Kate Robin’s expertise in crafting layered, darkly comedic female stories, a script that deftly examines the complexity of attraction and moral ambiguities, and the incomparable Rachel Weisz leading the cast, this project is a powerhouse collaboration of talented women. We can’t wait for our fans to be as obsessed with ‘Vladimir’ as we are.”
And this is what Horgan commented:
“I fell in love with Julia’s writing from the very first paragraph. I feel very lucky and incredibly excited for Merman to bring ‘Vladimir’ to life alongside Small Dog. Getting to partner with Netflix and have Rachel attached is a thrill and testament to the brilliance of the scripts.”
Where else can we see Rachel Weisz?
Rachel Weisz in ‘Dead Ringers.’ Credit: Niko Tavernise/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
She reprised the Marvel role (at least her voice) for animated series ‘What If…?’ and was one of the driving forces behind 2023 Prime Video thriller series ‘Dead Ringers,’ itself an adaptation of the book that inspired the eponymous 1988David Cronenberg movie.
Next up for Weisz is Thomas Alfredson’s drama ‘Séance on a Wet Afternoon,’ which is in pre-production.
When will ‘Vladimir’ be on screens?
Given that the cameras have yet to roll on the new limited series, we don’t see this hitting Netflix’s servers much before 2026.
Rachel Weisz in ‘Dead Ringers.’ Credit: Niko Tavernise/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
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 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.
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).
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.”
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.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
Another Halloween is upon us and with it brings another season of Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, which takes place at Universal Studios Orlando August 30th – November 3rd.
Beginning in 1991, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights has become the world’s premier Halloween event. This year’s event will include 10 terrifying haunted houses based on popular films like ‘A Quiet Place’, ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’, and ‘Insidious’. The event will also include houses based on original ideas like ‘Major Sweets Candy Factory’, ‘Triplets of Terror’ and ‘Goblin’s Feast’.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
This year’s event will also introduce two new hosts of horror, Sinist3r and Surr3al, who are reigning the streets of Universal Studios Florida and unleashing horror within five scare zones including ‘Duality of Fear’, ‘Torture Faire’ and ‘Enter the Blumhouse’, which features characters from Blumhouse movies like ‘The Black Phone’ and ‘M3gan’. The massive event also includes new themed food and beverages and an energetic live show called ‘Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of traveling to Universal Studios Orlando to enjoy the opening night of Halloween Horror Nights 2024 firsthand and experience all the scares and spookiness they have prepared for visitors this year.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
Be prepared to silence your screams in the new ‘A Quiet Place’ house, which is based on director John Krasinski’s ‘A Quiet Place’ and ‘A Quiet Place Part II’.
Here is the official synopsis:
Fans will relive the tension that will come to life in iconic scenes from the first two films, from traveling through the farmhouse that serves as the Abbott family’s shelter and stepping into the root cellar where Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) escapes to give birth as one of the creatures closes in. Mirroring the silence in the films, the haunted house will embrace unique sound design, special effects and will incorporate the use of American Sign Language (ASL) for the first time ever at Halloween Horror Nights.
While the attraction does not incorporate elements of the recent box office hit ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’, it does follow the characters from the original film and includes lots of alien scares.
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‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
Based on the events of the most recent installment of the franchise, the ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ house follows an ancient artifact that unleashes an evil force that threatens to destroy the world.
Here is the official synopsis:
‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ will transport fans of the film franchise to New York City where the Spengler family teams up with the original Ghostbusters who are now at the helm of a top-secret research lab for their ghost-busting enterprise. With the daunting discovery of an old relic that has set free the vengeful spirit of Garraka, who threatens to freeze everyone to death, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their city and save the world from a second Ice Age.
While the haunted house follows the story of ‘Frozen Empire’ very closely, it also includes Easter eggs from other ‘Ghostbuster’ movies including Slimer from the original and Vigo the Carpathian (Wilhelm von Homburg) from ‘Ghostbusters II’.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
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‘Insidious: The Further’
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
Produced by Blumhouse Productions in association with Sony Pictures, ‘Insidious’ tells the disturbing story of the Lamberts, a family haunted by evil supernatural forces after their son slips into an inexplicable comatose state after becoming possessed by a demonic entity.
In the all-new Halloween Horror Nights haunted house, guests will follow in the footsteps of the Lamberts, encountering familiar settings and scares as they are transported directly into “The Further” – the ethereal place where ghosts and demons lurk.
Here is the official synopsis:
Guests’ journey into ‘Insidious: The Further’ begins as they step through the iconic red door, where many of the tormented spirits and demons from the franchise await – determined to ensnare humans and steal their souls. Fans will come face-to-face with The Red-Faced Demon, who will attempt to lure them into his lair; the grim KeyFace, hoping to lock his victims in this dark dimension; the ghastly and dangerous Bride in Black; and the vengeful spirit of the Man Who Can’t Breathe. As guests make their way through the haunted house, they’ll go from red door to red door – traveling deeper into a dark and timeless astral world where they must evade this collection of sinister creatures at every spine-chilling turn, or their souls will be trapped here…forever.
‘Insidious: The Further’ is one of the scariest new houses at the attraction and incorporates elements from the entire franchise including the recent movie, ‘The Red Door’.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
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Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines
Based on classic Universal Monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein, this new house is based on an original story including female Monster characters like Saskia Van Helsing, She-Wolf, the Bride of Frankenstein and Dracula’s Daughter.
Here is the official synopsis:
Fans will encounter Saskia Van Helsing, a new fearless huntress. She faces off with Dracula’s daughter, Countess Marya, who arose from the dead to seek revenge for her father and destroy the Van Helsing bloodline. With a mission to kill, Dracula’s daughter, from 1936’s ‘Dracula’s Daughter’, forms a deadly alliance with the She-Wolf, inspired by the 1946 film ‘She-Wolf of London’, and Anck- Su-Namun, from the 1932 film ‘The Mummy’ – only to be intercepted by Saskia and an unlikely ally, ‘The Bride of Frankenstein’. The terrifying adventure will take guests on a journey between the hunted and the hunters in a life and death battle with only one bloodline left to survive.
Emmy-nominated composer Sara Barone created an original score for this all-new haunted house, which also features a performer on a zipline.
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Other Haunted Houses
The event also includes several original haunted houses such as ‘Slaughter Sinema 2’, which takes place at a Drive-in, and ‘Goblin’s Feast’, which simulates a Goblin’s Thanksgiving dinner where the human visitors are the main course.
‘Major Sweets Candy Factory’ finds its candy transforming kids into candy-coated killers and is like a demonic version of ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’, while ‘The Museum: Deadly Exhibits’ features a rotten stone that possesses the museum and all the artifacts inside it.
Finally, ‘Monstrous: The Monsters of Latin America’ features creatures like Tlahuelpuchi, La Lechuza and El Silbón, while ‘Triplets of Terror’ tells an original story of the Barmy triplets, who murdered their parents on their birthday and kill a new family every year to celebrate.
Scare Zones
This year’s event will introduce two new hosts of horror, SINIST3R and SURR3AL, who are reigning the streets of Universal Studios Florida and unleashing all the horror that awaits within five scare zones, which are interactive areas within the park.
‘Enter the Blumhouse’
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
The only Scare Zone based off an IP, ‘Enter the Blumhouse’ includes characters from ‘The Purge’, ‘The Black Phone’, ‘Freaky’ and ‘M3gan’. The area also has a “dance party” vibe and was one of the most populated zones during our opening night visit.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
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Other Scare Zones
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
‘Duality of Fear’ allows visitors to choose a path to follow either Sinist3r or Surr3al, with the former taking you to Sinist3r’s ‘Torture Faire’ or the latter bringing you to Surr3al’s ‘Demon Queens’ zone, where four merciless queens rule the otherworldly hellscape. Finally, we have ‘Swamp of the Undead’, which allows guests to wander onto private property where they are surrounded by zombies born from the bodies of former trespassers.
Live Shows and Food
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
This year’s new live show, which runs nightly, is entitled ‘Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus’. The experience is set inside a dark circus and is full of pyrotechnics and aerialists flying to the beat of rock rhythms.
Finally, Universal Studios Orlando is offering several Halloween Horror Nights themed food and beverage’s including Pork Carniceria (‘Monstrous: The Monsters of Latin America’), Mini Stay-Puft S’mores (‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’), Abbott’s Farm Corn Chowder (‘A Quiet Place’) and returning fan- favorites like Twisted Taters.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
Movies that inspired 2024’s Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights:
Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
Tom Cruise is quite possibly the greatest movie star in the history of cinema!
His films have grossed over $8 billion dollars at the box office, and the actor is more than willing to hang off the side of a building or an airplane in order to entertain audience.
Now, with ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ opening this weekend, let’s take a look at the best action movies Tom Cruise has ever made, including the new ‘Top Gun.’
When Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) is arrested for treason, ex-investigator Jack Reacher (Cruise) undertakes the challenging task to prove her innocence and ends up exposing a shocking conspiracy.
Though safely entombed in a crypt deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient queen (Sofia Boutella) 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.
Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete. His existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger (Olga Kurylenko) from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.
With computer genius Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) at his side and a beautiful thief on his mind, agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) races across Australia and Spain to stop a former IMF agent (Dougray Scott) from unleashing a genetically engineered biological weapon called Chimera. This mission, should Hunt choose to accept it, plunges him into the center of an international crisis of terrifying magnitude.
A fugitive couple (Cruise and Cameron Diaz) goes on a glamorous and sometimes deadly adventure where nothing and no one – even themselves – are what they seem. Amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, they race across the globe, with their survival ultimately hinging on the battle of truth vs. trust.
When a gunman takes five lives with six shots, all evidence points to the suspect in custody. On interrogation, the suspect offers up a single note: “Get Jack Reacher!” So begins an extraordinary chase for the truth, pitting Jack Reacher (Cruise) against an unexpected enemy, with a skill for violence and a secret to keep.
Ray Ferrier (Cruise) is a divorced dockworker and less-than-perfect father. Soon after his ex-wife (Miranda Otto) drops off his teenage son (Justin Chatwin) and young daughter (Dakota Fanning) for a rare weekend visit, a strange and powerful lightning storm touches down.
For Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Cruise) and his friend and co-pilot Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards), being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. But a tragedy, as well as personal demons, will threaten Pete’s dreams of becoming an ace
When Ethan Hunt (Cruise), the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has penetrated the CIA, and he’s surprised to learn that he’s the No. 1 suspect. To clear his name, Hunt now must ferret out the real double agent and, in the process, even the score.
Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare, which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the samurai’s way of life in the name of modernization and open trade, Algren decides to become an ultimate warrior himself and to fight for their right to exist.
Retired from active duty to train new IMF agents, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is called back into action to confront sadistic arms dealer, Owen Davian (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). Hunt must try to protect his girlfriend while working with his new team to complete the mission.
John Anderton (Cruise) is a top ‘Precrime’ cop in the late-21st century, when technology can predict crimes before they’re committed. But Anderton becomes the quarry when another investigator targets him for a murder charge.
When an IMF mission ends badly, the world is faced with dire consequences. As Ethan Hunt (Cruise) takes it upon himself to fulfill his original briefing, the CIA begin to question his loyalty and his motives. The IMF team find themselves in a race against time, hunted by assassins (Henry Cavill) while trying to prevent a global catastrophe.
Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his team are racing against time to track down a dangerous terrorist named Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist ), who has gained access to Russian nuclear launch codes and is planning a strike on the United States.
An attempt to stop him ends in an explosion causing severe destruction to the Kremlin and the IMF to be implicated in the bombing, forcing the President to disavow them. No longer being aided by the government, Ethan and his team chase Hendricks around the globe, although they might still be too late to stop a disaster.
Major Bill Cage (Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously demoted and dropped into combat. Cage is killed within minutes, managing to take an alpha alien down with him. He awakens back at the beginning of the same day and is forced to fight and die again… and again – as physical contact with the alien has thrown him into a time loop.
Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his team take on their most impossible mission yet—eradicating ‘The Syndicate’, an International and highly-skilled rogue organization committed to destroying the IMF.
Talented but unproven stock car driver Cole Trickle gets a break and with the guidance of veteran Harry Hogge turns heads on the track. The young hotshot develops a rivalry with a fellow racer that threatens his career when the two smash their cars. But with the help of his doctor, Cole just might overcome his injuries– and his fear.
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.
When he finds himself training a detachment of TOPGUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose.”
Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.
It’s been 20 years since Universal delivered one of the best movie reboots of all time in “The Mummy.” No amount of lackluster sequels, direct-to-video spinoffs or re-reboots will dull the appeal of this modern-day classic. Celebrate that anniversary with some fun facts you might not know about the making of “The Mummy.”
1. Universal originally planned on rebooting “The Mummy” as a low-budget horror film in the early 1990’s. Clive Barker was attached to direct, and the film would have focused on a modern-day museum curator attempting to raise an army of undead mummies.
2.Tom Cruise was originally offered the lead role but turned it down. Cruise would go on to star in the 2017 reboot instead.
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3. Because of the dangerous political situation in Egypt, most of the filming had to be done in Morocco instead.
4. Even Morocco had its significant dangers. All the main cast members had to have kidnapping insurance. Director Stephen Sommers opted not to inform his cast of this detail until after production wrapped.
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5.Brendan Fraser nearly lost his life while filming the hanging scene. According to Rachel Weisz, he stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated.
6. Fraser’s colleagues didn’t fare much better. Everyone on set was required to drink a specially created beverage every two hours in order to stay hydrated, and numerous crew members were hospitalized after being bitten or stung by poisonous animals.
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7. The collapsing library stunt was achieved in a single take. That’s fortunate for the crew, as rebuilding the set would have taken a full day’s work.
8. The character Ardeth Bay was originally supposed to have been killed off in the film’s climax, but Sommers rewrote that part after realizing he liked Oded Fehr too much. Fehr would instead reprise his role in “The Mummy Returns.”
Universal Pictures
9. Bay is also intended as an homage to the 1932 film. In that version, Imhotep himself takes up the cover identity of Ardeth Bay (an anagram for “Death by Ra”) when he tries to pass himself off as a modern Egyptian.
10. One of the background extras can be seen wearing a cloak that was originally worn by Sir Alec Guinness during the filming of “Star Wars.” This was only discovered after filming was completed.
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11. That cloak wasn’t the only classic Hollywood prop o be re-purposed during production. Many of the plastic dummies used to depict Imhotep’s victims were previously featured in 1985’s “Lifeforce.”
12. Sommers originally planned on paying tribute to the classic Universal logo during the opening of the film. While he abandoned the idea, he re-purposed it in 2004’s “Van Helsing” instead.
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13. If you’re wondering how scarabs could survive so long in Imhotep’s tomb without a food source, an earlier draft of the screenplay revealed that the scarabs themselves were affected by Imhotep’s curse after biting him.
14. There are technically eight films in this incarnation of the “Mummy” franchise. The original film spawned two direct sequels and the 2003 spinoff “The Scorpion King,” which itself currently has three sequels and one prequel.
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15. “The Mummy” and “The Mummy Returns” also inspired an animated series that ran for two seasons between 2001 and 2003.
