“The Mummy” may be based on Universal’s classic movie monster IP, but Sofia Boutella’s take on the character has a feminist bent.
“She’s princess who has been promised to become Pharaoh,” Boutella said of the incident that inspires her rage in the Tom Cruise film, during a Q&A at CinemaCon 2017.
“Playing a monster was really interesting to me, but also the fact that the mummy was a woman. Whenever something happens, there’s always a monster within us,” Boutella said.
The French-Algerian star will accept the Rising Star of Tomorrow award from the annual convention of movie exhibitors on Thursday night.
Jon Spaihts wrote the screenplay “The Mummy,” with Alex Kurtzman directing and producing alongside Chris Morgan and Sean Daniel. This is the first in a planned series of films based on the studio’s storied vault of monsters which includes Dracula, the Werewolf, the Invisible Man and the Bride of Frankenstein.
There was a previous modern-day “Mummy” franchise which starred Brendan Frasier: 1999’s “The Mummy,” 2001’s “The Mummy Returns” and 2008’s “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.” The films have grossed more than $1.25 billion worldwide.