LOS ANGELES January 12, 2026 – Warner Bros. has unleashed the first teaser trailer for Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, an original supernatural horror film that promises to bury audiences in terror. Directed and written by Lee Cronin, the filmmaker behind the 2023 hit Evil Dead Rise, this new project marks a bold departure from previous iterations of the iconic monster story. The cryptic teaser, clocking in at just over a minute, opens with production logos from New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster, and Blumhouse, setting a ominous tone with flickering lights and shadowy figures. It teases glimpses of a desolate desert landscape, old photographs of a happy family, and a mysterious storm. The central question flashes on screen: “What happened to Katie?” culminating in a horrifying close-up of a young girl with pale, cracked skin and a bandaged head, her mouth agape in a silent scream. The tagline warns, “Some things are meant to stay buried,” before revealing the title and April 17 release date. According to the official synopsis, the film follows the young daughter of a journalist, Katie (played by newcomer Natalie Grace), who vanishes without a trace in the desert. Eight years later, she mysteriously reappears, but the family’s joyous reunion quickly spirals into a nightmarish ordeal as dark secrets unravel. Cronin has described his vision as “almost one part Poltergeist and one part Seven,” emphasizing a twisted, intimate horror experience rather than action-adventure spectacle.
The cast includes Jack Reynor as the grieving father, Laia Costa, May Calamawy (known from Moon Knight), and Verónica Falcón in supporting roles. Natalie Grace’s portrayal of the returned Katie appears central to the film’s chills, with early footage showcasing her eerie transformation.
Produced by horror heavyweights James Wan (The Conjuring) and Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity), the movie is a collaboration between Atomic Monster and Blumhouse, distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It’s slated for release in theaters and IMAX on April 17, 2026, in North America, with international dates like April 16 in Malaysia and Thailand.
Social media buzz on X (formerly Twitter) has been electric since the teaser’s drop yesterday, with fans praising the return to pure horror roots. One user noted, “This was the ORIGINAL MUMMY movie from 1932 that starred Boris Karloff and was a supernatural horror film,” highlighting the film’s nod to classic scares. Others expressed excitement for Cronin’s direction, with comments like “Okay this actually looks good and is not related to the other Mummy Franchises.” However, reactions are mixed; some skeptics compared it unfavorably to the 2017 Tom Cruise reboot, saying, “Honestly, seeing this makes the 2017 Tom Cruise version look like a masterpiece.”
This isn’t connected to Universal’s Mummy franchise but stands as a standalone reimagining, potentially kicking off a new wave of monster movies from Blumhouse. With Cronin’s track record and a stellar production team, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is shaping up to be one of 2026’s most anticipated horror releases.
About The Author
