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The competent but underwhelming The Mummy doesn't exactly woo us into Universal's Monster Universe. Review by Matt Cummings When news hit last year that Universal was building a Movie Monster Universe (we'll call it MMU), the idea didn't exactly wow audiences to get behind it. But things seemed to improve dramatically when we heard about the talent that was being assembled: Crowe, Cruise, Depp, Jolie, Bardem. Unfortunately, Universal's first (or perhaps second?) foray into this universe - that being The Mummy - arrives merely as a competent product, but lacks the glory of Iron Man and the power of Wonder Woman in terms of whetting our appetite for a larger story. After 5,000 years of sleep in a mercury-filled burial tomb, the Egyptian Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella) - who murdered her father in an attempt to become Egypt's Pharaoh - is accidentally reawakened by treasure hunters Nick (Tom Cruise) and Chris (Jake Johnson). At the same time, a secret

With Tom Cruise in the lead, you might think that the new take on The Mummy would have the star power it needs. Apparently not! According to Deadline, Russell Crowe is in talks to join the film. With Alex Kurtzman already at work directing what he and Universal are aiming as the start of the new shared monster movie universe, the film finds Cruise as Tyler Colt, a special forces soldier in the present day confronted with the emergence of a powerful, ancient force (Kingsman's Sofia Boutella is playing the title character). Crowe, assuming he signs on, will play a Dr. Jekyll-type personality (or dual personality, given the character's history) and while Deadline's report says that he's currently only lining up a deal to work on this film, you've got to figure that it'll be a set up for future appearances. Jon Spaihts wrote the script for the latest iteration of the Mummy movies, and Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson and Courtney B. Vance are all in the c

Over the past several years, a number of names have been associated with the idea of bringing Star Trek back to television. One of the most bandied about has been Bryan Fuller . Today CBS announced that Fuller will indeed be serving as co-creator and showrunner of the new series set to premiere this January. For executive producer Alex Kurtzman (who produced and co-wrote the first two films in the J.J. Abrams big screen reboot of the franchise) this is exciting news. "Bringing Star Trek back to television means returning it to its roots, and for years those roots flourished under Bryan's devoted care," he says of Fuller, who has previously worked on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. "His encyclopedic knowledge of Trek canon is surpassed only by his love for Gene Roddenberry's optimistic future; a vision that continues to guide us as we explore strange new worlds." Fuller, who will remain as co-showrunner of the forthcoming America

THR is reporting Sofia Boutella , who had a breakout role in Kingsman: The Secret Service , is in talks to play the titular role in Universal's The Mummy . Yes, the monster in the new reboot will be female, as THR previously reported. Tom Cruise is in negotiations to star in the modern-day set movie that Alex Kurtzman is helming and Universal will release March 24, 2017. Jon Spaihts wrote the script although plot details are being kept deep in the tomb. Kurtzman is producing with Chris Morgan and Sean Daniel. Universal's The Mummy is planned as the first film in a series of interconnected monster films as Universal hopes to build a cinematic universe out of its vault of classic creature features. Other potential films revolve around the characters of Dracula, Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein, and vampire hunter Van Helsing. A Universal spokesperson said the studio is not commenting on any casting speculation surrounding Mummy. Boutella

Read on to learn who might replace Roberto Orci as director of Star Trek 3 . Regardless if you're a long-time Trekker (that's what we call ourselves) or someone who just enjoyed Director JJ Abrams' rebooted series, Star Trek has proven to be a money-making hit as well as a critical success. Perhaps the main reason for that was Abrams himself, who stood the frankly tired franchise on its ear by beaming its characters into an alternate timeline. Add to that a rich history of characters, including the conflicted Vulcan Mr. Spock and the bold adventurer Captain James T. Kirk, and you had a winning formula for success. But with Abrams now attached to Star Wars: The Force Awakens - and having released a pretty awesome teaser trailer the week of Thanksgiving - it's clear that his somoene needed to pick up the car keys to drive Star Trek forward. That person was set to be Writer Roberto Orci, best known for his screenwriting work with former partner Alex Kurtzma

Drew Goddard also is writing the film, which will focus on the villains of the Spider-Man universe. The Cabin in the Woods helmer Drew Goddard is nearing a deal to direct Sinister Six , the Spider-Man spinoff that he's also writing. Goddard, who worked with Kurtzman, Orci and Jeff Pinkner on TV’s  Alias , was one of the saviors of  World War Z  after that movie ran into third act trouble. He wrote and made his directorial debut with the 2012 horror film  The Cabin in the Woods , and will write and executive produce Netflix's  Daredevil . In December, Sony hired Goddard to pen the script for the film, which will focus on the villains in Spider-Man's world. In an effort to expand the Spider-Man universe, Sony in December also hired Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci , and Ed Solomon to work on another spinoff, titled Venom , centered on the black-costumed villain that already made his big-screen debut in the third Spider-Man movie of the Sam Raimi trilogy. Kurtzman will d

PEOPLE LIKE US Review By: RAMA Let's find out what RAMA thought of this film. A somewhat sentimental but effective drama for siblings everywhere. Well-acted, well-scripted, I think Alex Kurtzman’s feature directorial debut is off to a feel-good start. Chris Pine once again, just like he did in Star Trek, shows those effortless skills of his, everything about that man screams movie star, and Elizabeth Banks proves that this is her finest hour, both Pine and Banks to me are fairly new, we’ve seen their previous works, they’ve been around, mostly in supporting roles, but as lead stars, they’re slowly but surely showcasing what they’ve got and PEOPLE LIKE US gives them the opportunity to shine the brightest. This is where their dramatic chops are put to the test… From DreamWorks Pictures comes “People Like Us,” a drama/comedy about family, inspired by true events, starring Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) as Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses

I will be attending a special screening tomorrow night for the film PEOPLE LIKE US , and next month I will  be interviewing star Chris Pine and director Alex Kurtzman  for the film. Via the films Facebook page we got our hands on a new clip and poster for the film. From DreamWorks Pictures comes “ PEOPLE LIKE US ,” a drama/comedy about family, inspired by true events, starring Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) as Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses on the day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father’s estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father’s last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie whom he never knew about ( Elizabeth Banks ). As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family—and re-exami

Sequel To Follow The lines Of “The Empire Strikes Back The 2009 reboot of “ Star Trek ” was a shining moment for fans of sci-fi and spectacle films and the sequel, due in 2012, may well follow the box-office trajectory of the Christopher Nolan Gotham City films — “Batman Begins” earned the credibility with fans old and new and then “The Dark Knight” delivered the billion-dollar payoff. “ Star Trek ” writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci , the tandem that also penned “ Transformers ” and next summer’s “ Cowboys & Aliens ” and also created the Fox sci-fi series “ Fringe ,” are back to script the sequel. The LATimes caught up with the screenwriters, who talked about the challenges ahead and also shared a playful aspiration — an on-screen showdown between Captain Kirk and Darth Vader . LT: It’s early days on the “Star Trek” sequel, but is there anything you can tell us about the story direction, tone or even the types of challenges you’re anticipating with this next-step projec

"Hawaii Five-0" Remake Has Found Mr. Ho Another television show from our childhood is going to make it to the big screen soon. And they have tapped into CBS show " Hawaii Five-0" "Lost's" Daniel Dae Kim is staying in Hawaii with a lead role on CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" remake. In CBS' updated take on the classic cop series, from CBS Studios, Kim will play Detective Chin Ho Kelly, a role played in the original series by Kam Fong. The part of Detective Steve McGarrett has not yet been cast, though "Moonlight" star Alex O'Loughlin continues to be in talks for it. If the younger crowd has never heard of this show here is a synopsis of the show: The show aired from which aired from September 20, 1968 to April 5, 1980. Hawaii Five-O centers on a fictional state police force (named in honor of Hawaii's status as the 50th State)[3] led by former Navy officer Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord), who was appointed by the Governor Paul Jam

Star Trek Writers Talk Sequel and Star Wars STAR TREK writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have given a few more clues about their ideas for the sequel. They talk about the massive pressure to build on the success of the first film and reveal it will have a villain as its main focus. In a Q&A session in Beverly Hills, the duo mention the classic adversary Khan, previously played by the late Ricardo Montalbán. The character first appeared in the 1967 TV episode Space Seed and returned in the 1982 movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. On the setting for the story, Orci explained: "We would never do a remake....it will be some time in the five-year mission. But that is a question. Should we pick them up immediately the next day or should it be later, we are still discussing that." And Kurtzman says the villain will be hugely significant in the follow-up: "I think our idea on this is that the first of any series is about them coming together or the formation. I could