Russell Crowe is in talks to star in ‘The Mummy’ reboot opposite Tom Cruise.
The 51-year-old actor is in negotiations to take the role of Dr. Henry Jekyll – the fictional scientist from Robert Louis Stevenson’s 19th century novella ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ who invents a serum that turns him into a depraved and hideous man known as Mr. Hyde. – in Universal Pictures’ upcoming motion picture opposite the 53-year-old action star, who is playing Navy Seal Tyler Colt.
The story follows Tyler’s mission in the Iraqi desert to find a group of terrorists hiding out in a bunker, but he soon finds they are nothing more than some grave robbers who have all magically died upon entering a mysterious bunker.
Tyler and his team realise the bunker is actually a centuries old tomb and mayhem erupts as all the Navy Seal members start turning on one another.
After making his way deep within the tomb, Tyler discovers a black iron sarcophagus marked with Egyptian symbols and is compelled to open the sarcophagus and release the mummy inside. But after touching the relic, he is immediately stabbed in the palm with a star shaped symbol cursed with visions of Ashurbanipal, King of Assyria.
The movie will also feature Kingsman: The Secret Service’ actress Sofia Boutella and ‘Peaky Blinders’ star Annabelle Wallis.
The plot calls for the skills of Dr. Jekyll, and it is believed Universal hope that the small role will lead to a possible stand-alone motion picture for the character.
The film is already shooting in London and actors Tom Hardy and Javier Bardem were previously eyed to play Dr. Henry Jekyll but discussions fell through.