Insidious: Chapter 3 finds a director and The Mummy reboot loses one

One project gains a director while another loses one; so goes the crazy world that is Hollywood. Movies are always in a constant state of flux as filmmakers leave and join projects about as often as athletes switch teams. Sometimes, the change is for the better result in the franchise and on some occasions it can foresee doom. Take these announcements for what you will.

On the addition side, INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 has found a director to take the franchise over from James Wan. Wan, who directed the first two movies as well as the excellent THE CONJURING, departed the series to helm FAST AND FURIOUS 7. Producer Jason Blum, however, didn’t have to go far to find Wan’s replacement. INSIDIOUS screenwriter and co-star Leigh Whannell has signed on to direct the third film. Whannell co-created the SAW franchise with James Wan and has appeared in both INSIDIOUS flicks to date. INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 will mark his feature directorial debut.

I like the selection as it keeps some consistency in the franchise which has been solid through two films. Whannell was aboard the SAW franchise as it was driven into the ground with numerous sequels, so hopefully he will keep INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 above board. The sequel will not feature Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, or Barbara Hershey and will tell a new story with new characters. It is slated to hit theaters on April 3, 2015.

Losing a director will be Universal’s reboot of THE MUMMY, produced by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. MAMA director Andy Muschetti was on board to helm the contemporary reboot of the iconic horror franchise. Scripted by PROMETHEUS writer Jon Spaihts, Orci and Kurtzman were promising a scarier take than the Stephen Sommers blockbusters starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. According to The Wrap, Muschetti left due to creative differences after he wanted to take THE MUMMY in a darker and likely less family friendly direction.

Len Wiseman was also attached to THE MUMMY at one point and bowed out. This makes two directors who have clashed with Orci and Kurtzman over their vision for a shared Universal Monsters cinematic universe that would also include the already planned VAN HELSING reboot. Where the departure leaves the project remains to be seen. THE MUMMY could be a huge hit if handled in the right way. Maybe Orci and Kurtzman will reassess their plans in time to keep the film on track for the already announced April 22, 2016 release date.