The Mummy & The Failed Dark Universe: Tom Cruise's Monster Movie Flop

Universal's attempt to launch a Marvel-like cinematic universe with classic monsters ended in disappointment.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:43pm

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In 2017, Universal Pictures tried to launch a shared cinematic universe called the Dark Universe, featuring its classic monster characters like Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Invisible Man. The first film, The Mummy starring Tom Cruise, was intended to kick off this new franchise, but it received poor reviews and underperformed at the box office, effectively ending the Dark Universe project before it could truly get off the ground.

Why it matters

The failure of the Dark Universe highlights the challenges of building a successful shared universe in the modern film landscape, where audiences demand quality standalone stories rather than just setup for future installments. It offers valuable lessons for studios considering similar ambitious interconnected storytelling projects.

The details

Despite a sizable production budget and a star-studded cast, The Mummy struggled with an inconsistent tone, a narrative that felt more like setup than a satisfying standalone story, and reports of significant creative control by Tom Cruise. The underwhelming performance of the film led Universal to abandon its plans for a connected Dark Universe, with sequels and spin-offs featuring characters like Frankenstein and the Invisible Man being put on hold.

  • The Mummy was released in theaters in June 2017.
  • By 2019, Universal had officially abandoned the Dark Universe concept.

The players

Universal Pictures

The major Hollywood studio that attempted to launch the Dark Universe franchise.

Tom Cruise

The lead actor in The Mummy, who reportedly exerted significant creative control over the film.

Alex Kurtzman

One of the key architects of the Dark Universe project, who departed the project after the failure of The Mummy.

Chris Morgan

Another key architect of the Dark Universe who left the project after The Mummy's disappointing performance.

Leigh Whannell

The director of the successful Invisible Man reboot, which took a different approach to Universal's monster properties.

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What’s next

Universal has a new Mummy reboot in development, scheduled for release in May 2028. The studio is now focusing on standalone films with unique creative voices, rather than forcing interconnectedness, as seen with the success of Leigh Whannell's Invisible Man in 2020.

The takeaway

The Dark Universe's failure offers valuable lessons for studios considering shared universe projects, including the importance of prioritizing quality over connectivity, respecting source material, balancing creative vision with studio mandates, and taking a patient, long-term approach to building a successful interconnected franchise.