Inside ‘The Mummy’s’ Troubles: Tom Cruise Had Excessive Control

Variety ^ | June 14, 2017 | Ramin Setoodeh, and Brent Lang

[C19fan]

There were few signs that a major blockbuster was about to premiere when “The Mummy” rolled into Manhattan last week. The marquee of the AMC Loews Lincoln Square Theatres had gone blank. The carpet was totally covered with black plastic. Security only let guests past barricades after quizzing them about what they were there to see, and everybody had to walk through two imposing metal detectors.

Inside the theater, Tom Cruise was jubilant, as he stood in front of the crowd. “Hey y’all,” said the 54-year-old actor. He introduced Alex Kurtzman, the film’s director, as well as the cast members, who stood quietly as Cruise delivered a 10-minute improvised speech. “Movies aren’t made by single people,” he said. “It’s a team effort.”

[C19fan]

Single handily Cruise destroyed Universal's hopes to resurrect its monsters.

[Steely Tom]

I'm sure Tom took one look — just one look — at that movie and knew with total certainty that he was the one, the only one, the only person in the universe, who could save that production, who could make that movie into a success.

[Snickering Hound]

'Edge of Tomorrow' was a good Sci-Fi movie that died at the box office because it had Tom Cruise.

[C19fan]

Good movie but I watch it more for the *itch of Verdun.

[Steely Tom]

Anyone who declines to go see this picture can expect to hear from David Miscavage’s lawyers.

[Puppage]

[drewh]

Univseral went WAY too old with the Dark Universe demos. Brendon Frasier was a young man when this movie was a hit...Johnny Deep as the Invisible Man and Javier Bardem and Son of Frankenstein aint gonna go it!

Angelina Jolie as the Bride of Fankenstien I like

[EdnaMode]

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[golux]

The guy is a great filmmaker and knows his craft. He will walk onto a set and tell the director what to do, say ‘that’s not the right lens...’

As a small-time producer and director I had way too much respect for my DPs to tell them what lens to use.

An actor telling the DP or telling me what to tell the DP what lens to use is - well - unthinkable.

[Bullish]

The reviewers are mostly calling this movie complete garbage and no one should be surprised because after all, it’s a Tom Cruise movie.

[Snickering Hound]

Good movie but I watch it more for the *itch of Verdun.

Easier to get a guy to watch a romantic comedy with Meryl Streep, Bette Midler and Glenn Close than to get a girl to watch something with Tom Cruise. Except 'Risky Business'.

[RayChuang88]

That's why I've always admired Ron Howard. He went from a big-time child star on the Andy Griffith Show to a big time actor in Happy Days to a very competent movie director. Howard will be remembered as one of the few people in Hollywood that became successful at every level.

[Two Kids' Dad]

In the end he vanquishes the mummy by stealing all its thetans.

[discostu]

Cruise always has massive amounts of control, most of his movies are hits. The real problem is the same as with the Ghostbusters remake. They got so addicted to building this shared universe they forgot what movie they were making and spent way too much. a $31 million opening weekend should not be disappointing, unless you spent $125 million making it. If they’d have shaved $50 million off that budget it would be on its way to domestic profitability and global smash hit.

[Fresh Wind]

I watched the trailer for this movie. I think I'll pass on it, and stay with Boris Karloff's 1932 classic.

[discostu]

That died at the box office because the marketing was terrible. They advertised it as Groundhog Day with explosions, which just isn’t that interesting. Instead it’s actually a pretty intellectual movie... with explosions.

[drewh]

The Mummy made 172 million worldwide the first weekend, that is a hit. That is the reason Top Gun 2 just got green lit

[DouglasKC]

'Edge of Tomorrow' was a good Sci-Fi movie that died at the box office because it had Tom Cruis

I liked him in that movie...plus I liked him in Oblivion as well.

[DouglasKC]

'Edge of Tomorrow' was a good Sci-Fi movie that died at the box office because it had Tom Cruis

I liked him in that movie...plus I liked him in Oblivion as well.