Universal’s New Mummy Might Be a Mommy

It’s been over a year since Universal Studios launched their grand offensive to spin a connected universe of franchise films from their stable of iconic horror properties. In a naked bid to mimic the success of Marvel’s sprawling intertextual network of film properties, Universal unveiled a sweeping plan to bring together some of their most recognizable characters into one diegesis, reviving the idle brands of the Wolfman, Dracula, the Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, monster-hunter Van Helsing, the Invisible Man, Frankenstein’s monster and his bride. Ever since they spooked the bejesus out of audiences in the ‘40s and ‘50s, these creative properties have been gathering dust in Universal’s portfolio. With last year’s Dracula Untold, Universal set the first piece of their larger scheme into place, and now, they’re preparing to make their next move.

A new item from The Hollywood Reporter suggests that the studio has considered going in an exciting new direction with their planned reboot of The Mummy. Specifically, this mummy might be a mommy! Or, alternately, a childless woman. What I mean is that they’re considering casting a woman to play the title role, and contouring the story to match. Director Alex Kurtzman and writer Jon Spaihts stated that though the previous iterations of the bandaged-up undead have been male, the casting process could just as easily produce a woman to star, and that if that did come to pass, they’d create a unique backstory for her as well.

Of course, that still leaves the question as to how, exactly, flipping the mummy’s gender would alter the core components of the script. It’s safe to assume that, womanhood or no, the mummy will still command the mystical powers of ancient Egypt and hunger for revenge against those that disturb her slumber. But maybe now she demands to be paid equally relative to the male mummies?