Universal is teaming Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan up in an effort to reboot the long list of of classic monster franchises in Universal’s library.
The studio originally tasked Kurtzman and his long-time writing partner Roberto Orci with the assignment of breathing new life into these titles with “Van Helsing” and “The Mummy” franchises being the first to receive reboots.
After Kurtzman and Orci announced their split on the film side to focus on separate endeavors, Uni had to figure out which writer would take on the monsters and who they would team with.
Given Morgan’s relationship with the studio after rebooting “The Fast & Furious” franchise, it made sense for him to team with Kurtzman to breathe new life into the monsters.
The first title the two will team on is “The Mummy” reboot with a plan to release the latest installment April 22, 2016.
Universal currently has “Dracula Untold” set to bow this fall.
Kurtzman is currently developing the next installments in the “Spider-Man” franchise while Morgan’s “The Fast and Furious 7″ bows next April. Kurtzman is repped by CAA and Morgan is repped by ICM Partners.
Alex Kurtzman is in final negotiations to direct “The Mummy” reboot for Universal.
Kurtzman and “Fast and Furious” scribe Chris Morgan were recently tapped to help develop a universe for Universal where the studio’s classic monster movie library is front and center.
The two will also produce the pic with Jon Spaihts penning the script.
Plot details are vague other than it will be set in present time, unlike the previous three installments starring Brendan Fraser, which had a period feel to them. It’s also known that none of the characters from that set of films will appear in this one.
Universal’s executive vice president of production Jon Mone and director of development Jay Polidoro will oversee the project for Universal.
Kurtzman had previously directed the DreamWorks pic “People Like Us.” He is repped by CAA.