Sofia Boutella Cast As ‘The Mummy’ In Upcoming Reboot

An exciting piece of casting news on Universal’s planned Mummy reboot has emerged. Sofia Boutella (Kingsman) has been cast in the titular role, The Hollywood Reporter, reports.

Sofia Boutella Cast As ‘The Mummy’ In Upcoming Reboot

The character has traditionally been played by a man, most recently by Arnold Vosloo in the successful Brendan Frasier trilogy, so it will be interesting to see how the gender swap affects this reincarnation of the classic villain.

The film will also mark screenwriter Alex Kurtzman‘s (Transformers, Star Trek) first foray into directing and will feature Tom Cruise in a leading role. Jon Spaihts penned the script, though no plot details (bar the mummy’s gender reversal) have been given.

No doubt inspired by Marvel and Warner Bro.’s recent successes, Universal is touting the film as the first in a planned classic monsters cinematic universe. Staples of the genre, Dracula, Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein and vampire hunter Van Helsing are all expected to feature in upcoming installments.

News of Boutella’s casting solidifies her ascent to the A-list. The star began her career as a dancer, appearing in music videos for the likes of Madonna and Usher, but broke into the acting world with a starring role in Matthew Vaughn‘s Kingsman: The Secret Service, in which she played a villainous henchwoman with bladed prosthetic legs.

Boutella will next be seen in Star Trek Beyond in 2016.