From the outset, it seemed like Russell Crowe’s part in The Mummy might be more of a glorified cameo, with his role as Dr. Jekyll teasing the larger world of “gods and monsters.” Not only does this new featurette from the upcoming reboot reveal that Crowe has a much more significant role to play, but it also gives us our first (very brief) look at his famous other half, the sinister Mr. Hyde.

Here’s a screenshot in case you missed the super-quick appearance of Dr. Jekyll’s alter-ego:

Universal
Universal
loading...

See, you know he’s evil because his eyes are red. Other than that, he doesn’t look different from Jekyll at all, really.

It’s no secret that Universal has been plotting an ambitious shared universe of films based on their classic movie monsters, and according to this new behind-the-scenes featurette, Crowe’s Jekyll and Hyde is basically the key to the whole thing. The studio has several films in development, including projects based on The Wolfman and Bride of Frankenstein, but the franchise’s future hinges on the success of The Mummy — unless Alex Kurtzman’s new reboot is a hit with audiences, those films probably won’t happen. Having Tom Cruise on board is a pretty good start, though.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Mummy, which also stars Sofia Boutella as the titular villain:

Thought safely entombed in a tomb deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension. From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.

The Mummy hits theaters on June 9.

More From Mix 104.3