The Definitive Status Of The Mummy 2: 5 Reasons Why Tom Cruise’s Sequel Was Canceled

Despite persistent fan curiosity, the sequel to 2017’s The Mummy starring Tom Cruise, often referred to as The Mummy 2, is definitively not happening. As of December 2025, Universal Pictures has completely abandoned the continuity established by the 2017 film, choosing instead to pursue a new, disconnected, and horror-focused approach to their classic Universal Monsters library. The failure of the first movie effectively sealed the fate of its planned sequel and the ambitious shared cinematic universe it was meant to launch. The story of Nick Morton and Princess Ahmanet is now a closed chapter in Hollywood history.

The 2017 reboot was intended to be the cornerstone of a massive, interconnected franchise called the Dark Universe, featuring modern interpretations of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and more. However, its poor critical reception and disappointing box office performance derailed the entire plan almost immediately, leaving Tom Cruise’s character, Nick Morton, in a state of cinematic limbo and ensuring that a follow-up film would never see the light of day. This article explores the dramatic collapse of the sequel and what Universal is doing with the franchise now.

The Dark Universe Disaster: Why Nick Morton's Story Ended

The primary reason The Mummy 2 was canceled lies in the catastrophic failure of its predecessor. The 2017 film, directed by Alex Kurtzman, was meant to be the grand re-introduction of the Universal Monsters, but it stumbled right out of the gate. The movie’s critical and commercial performance was so weak that it caused Universal to immediately reassess and ultimately dismantle their entire shared universe strategy.

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1. The Critical and Box Office Flop

While the film generated over $400 million worldwide, its massive production and marketing budget meant it barely broke even, or even lost money, for the studio. More damaging was the critical consensus. Many critics and fans felt the movie was a confusing mix of action and horror that lacked a clear identity.

• Lack of Fun: Actor Brendan Fraser, star of the popular 1999 Mummy trilogy, famously suggested that the 2017 reboot failed because it "wasn't fun," a key ingredient the original films possessed.
• Identity Crisis: The story reportedly underwent numerous rewrites, resulting in a finished product that lacked a cohesive vision, trying too hard to set up a universe instead of telling a compelling standalone story.

2. The Forced Tom Cruise Factor

One of the central criticisms was the focus on Tom Cruise’s character, Nick Morton. Universal was criticized for prioritizing a major star and generic action-adventure tropes over the inherent horror and character of the Universal Monsters.

Cruise’s involvement, while guaranteeing a certain level of global box office draw, reportedly led to creative conflicts, with the star having significant control over the film's direction. The result was a film that felt more like a Tom Cruise vehicle than a true monster movie, ultimately wasting the talent of the cast, including Sofia Boutella as the titular Mummy, Ahmanet.

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3. The Immediate Collapse of the Dark Universe

The failure of The Mummy was not just a failure of one film; it was the immediate end of a massive, multi-film plan. Universal had already announced a full slate of movies, including:

• Bride of Frankenstein: Javier Bardem was cast.
• The Invisible Man: Johnny Depp was slated to star.
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• Phantom of the Opera

The studio even unveiled a logo and a cast photo featuring its key players—Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe (Dr. Henry Jekyll), Javier Bardem, and Sofia Boutella—just before the film’s release. Less than a month after the film's premiere, the architects of the Dark Universe departed, and the entire shared universe plan was shelved indefinitely.

The New Direction: Universal’s Monster Strategy Post-Cruise

Following the 2017 debacle, Universal adopted a completely different strategy. By 2019, the studio announced that instead of an interconnected cinematic universe, they would focus on individual, filmmaker-driven monster movies. This approach has proven to be a massive success, further cementing the cancellation of any Tom Cruise sequel.

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4. The Success of the Standalone Model

The first film under this new strategy, Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man (2020), was a critical and financial smash hit. Its success—a low-budget, high-concept horror film—vindicated Universal’s decision to move away from the blockbuster action formula tried with Tom Cruise. This model prioritizes genuine horror and unique directorial vision over shared universe continuity, making a return to Nick Morton’s story highly unlikely.

5. The Next Reboot is Already Confirmed

Universal is actively working on another reboot of The Mummy, which is reportedly a "horror reimagining" and is specifically designed to distance itself from the 2017 flop. This new movie confirms that the studio is moving forward with a fresh cast and crew, leaving no room for Tom Cruise’s character, Nick Morton, or the continuation of the Dark Universe storyline.

The new entry is expected to be a much scarier take on the source material, aligning with the successful horror-centric strategy established by The Invisible Man. This development serves as the final nail in the coffin for any hope of a Tom Cruise sequel.

The Legacy of The Mummy Franchise (Beyond Tom Cruise)

While the 2017 film is now largely forgotten, the original Mummy franchise continues to thrive in the cultural consciousness. This enduring popularity further complicates the legacy of the Dark Universe attempt and highlights what fans truly want from the property.

The Enduring Power of Brendan Fraser's Trilogy

The 1999 film, also titled The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, remains the gold standard for many fans. In a surprising display of its lasting appeal, a 25th-anniversary re-release of the original film in April 2024 saw it break into the top 20 at the North American box office.

This success has fueled ongoing, though currently unconfirmed, rumors about a potential reunion or a fourth film featuring Fraser and Weisz, demonstrating that the appetite for the franchise is strong, but focused on the lighthearted, adventurous tone that the Tom Cruise reboot abandoned. The comparison between the two versions is a major topical authority point when discussing the franchise's trajectory.

The Dark Universe Lives on... in Theme Parks

Interestingly, the "Dark Universe" brand is not entirely dead. Universal is launching a themed land called "Dark Universe" at its new Epic Universe theme park, set to open in 2025.

This theme park land, which will feature classic monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula, shows that Universal still sees value in the monster intellectual property. However, this is a distinct, separate branding exercise from the film division, which remains committed to the standalone, horror-focused movie model. The theme park's existence is a reminder of the grand cinematic plan that failed, but its success will not resurrect the Tom Cruise sequel.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict on Tom Cruise and The Mummy 2

For those hoping to see Tom Cruise return as Nick Morton, the news remains the same: The Mummy 2 is not going to happen. The film’s failure was the catalyst for Universal to completely scrap its Dark Universe plans and pivot to a more successful, low-budget, horror-driven model. The studio is now focused on a new, unrelated reboot of the franchise, ensuring that the 2017 film is a standalone anomaly.

The legacy of Tom Cruise’s attempt is not a sequel, but a cautionary tale about prioritizing a cinematic universe over a compelling single story. Fans should instead look forward to the new wave of Universal Monster films, which are finally embracing the horror roots that the 2017 action-adventure film largely ignored. The Dark Universe cinematic vision died in 2017, and with it, the potential for Nick Morton’s story to continue.