Universal Monsters Cast 'New Girl' Actor Jake Johnson in Tom Cruise's 'Mummy' Reboot
Weeks back, Universal Studios announced that their new reboot of The Mummy would be the first entry of an Avengers-like franchise that would introduce the classic monsters of their library to modern audiences. The Egypt-themed film has already cast Tom Cruise as its lead and now one big TV name has joined in: Jake Johnson, who plays Nick in New Girl!
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson, who's also a comedian and director, is the latest addition to the cast of the monster movie. He'll be playing a member of the military in one capacity or another, and it seems the role was written specifically for him.
As Cinema Blend reports, seeing as this is a tailored character, he'll be most likely playing the comic relief to Cruise's more hands-on approach to the supernatural. In the previous Mummy series, that type of role was played by John Hannah.
This will be the second time in the past few years that Johnson gets involved in a major Universal franchise. Last year, he played Lowery Cruthers in Jurassic World, the studio's reboot of the popular Steven Spielberg-directed franchise.
Seeing as the film ended up becoming the fourth highest-grossing film of all time, it's hardly surprising that the studio would want every cast member to return for other projects.
Besides Johnson and Cruise, Universal is building a pretty interesting cast with this film. Sofia Boutella, whose star-making role was in Kingsman: The Secret Service, will be playing the monster in the film, while Peaky Blinders star Annabelle Wallis is currently in talks for a role as an archeologist, similar to the one Rachel Weisz had in the previous franchise.
Contrary to the previous Mummy film series starring Weisz and Brendan Fraser, this one will be set in contemporary times. Star Trek Into Darkness screenwriter will be directing the film, from a script by Jon Spaihts, who also wrote the upcoming Doctor Strange movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
The new Mummy film is scheduled to begin filming next month, and it will be in theaters on June 9, 2017.