The Dark Universe was “biggest failure” of The Mummy director’s life

The 2017 reboot of The Mummy, featuring Tom Cruise, is often remembered for its disastrous attempt to kick off a shared universe called the Dark Universe. This ambitious project aimed to bring classic monsters back to life with big names like Russell Crowe as Dr. Jekyll, Johnny Depp as the Invisible Man, and Javier Bardem as Frankenstein’s Monster. However, the film bombed both critically and financially, leading to the collapse of the entire concept.

Interestingly, this failure paved the way for more creative and independent films that fans of lower-budget productions appreciate. For instance, it opened doors for Leigh Whannell’s Invisible Man and upcoming projects like Wolfman with Ryan Gosling and Renfield starring Nicolas Cage.

Alex Kurtzman, the director of The Mummy, has chosen to focus on the positives that came from this setback. He’s currently involved with the TV series The Man Who Fell to Earth and shared how this experience was a major turning point in his career. In an interview on The Playlist podcast Bingeworthy, he stated, “I believe that you don’t learn anything from your successes, but you learn everything from your failures. And The Mummy was probably the biggest failure of my life, both personally and professionally.”

Kurtzman admitted there are many aspects he regrets about the film, but he also acknowledges the invaluable lessons it taught him. “I didn’t truly become a director until I made that movie—not because it was well-directed, but precisely because it wasn’t,” he explained.

He reflected on the challenges he faced during production, saying, “Despite how tough it was and the many opinions involved, I’m grateful for the chance to make those mistakes. They helped toughen me up and sharpen my vision as a filmmaker.”

Kurtzman noted that this experience taught him to trust his instincts more. “Now, when something feels off, I speak up. I won’t move forward unless I’m sure, because it’s just not worth it. You can’t reach that level of appreciation without having gone through tough times,” he added.

He concluded by highlighting a common theme among successful creators, saying, “If you look at history, every great artist will tell you their journey includes failure. So, I now look back on that experience with gratitude. It took some time, but it’s ultimately made my life better.”