Update: Tom Cruise is not starring in this movie. Story here.

Universal Pictures is choosing to go big with their newly revived Monsters universe.

After dropping the ball with Dracula Untold, the studio is focusing on real star power to reignite the franchise that quite literally started it all.

First, there’s talk of Scarlett Johansson toplining the Creature From the Black Lagoon reboot.

Then, just the other day, word got out that the studio is targeting Angelina Jolie Pitt for the leading role in Bride of Frankenstein.

Now, Tom Cruise is in talks to star in the latest take on The Mummy, according to Variety.

The studio tapped Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan last summer to help develop a universe for Universal where its classic monster movie library is front and center. Kurtzman is also on board to direct and will produce alongside Morgan.

Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) is penning the script that is set in present day, unlike the previous three installments starring Brendan Fraser.

The bigger news here is that, according to the site, Cruise will play a major part in helping develop this new franchise, and is expected to play a large part in not only the Mummy franchise, but also in the monster universe, as it’s planned that characters will have roles in other monster movies leading up to an Avengers-style tie-in film.

My own personal guess here is that he’s in talks to play VAN HELSING, the epicenter of the Universal Monsters universe who is also rumored to get his own movie. Although, I’m not exactly sure how that would play into The Mummy films.

I was starting to doubt Universal’s master plan, but the stars are (literally) starting to align. I’ve always been a huge fan of Cruise, even during his “insane” years. Many people can’t separate a star’s public perception from their talent (Kanye West is the perfect example). Cruise is easily one of the best actors of all-time, and would be welcomed once again into our genre (he was so superb as Lestat in the Interview with the Vampire adaptation).