Andres Muschietti (Mama) is nearing a deal to direct the Untitled Mummy Reboot, two months after Len Wiseman dropped out due to scheduling issues.

No plot details have been released except that the project is being pitched as a modern-day action-adventure tentpole with horror elements and brand new characters. All of the previous Mummy movies were set in the 1920s.

We reported in February that Billy Ray (Captain Phillips) was brought on to write a competing draft alongside Jon Spaihts' (Prometheus) original script. It was believed that the studio was considering combining both screenplays into one shooting draft, although that has not been confirmed.

If a deal is signed, it is said to be the studio's first major move since Donna Langley took over as studio head, following Adam Fogelson's unexpected exit. However, Andres Muschietti was meeting with the studio in August.

Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Sean Daniel are producing for Universal, although no production schedule was given.

Andres Muschietti made his English-language directorial debut this January with Universal's Mama, which earned $146 million worldwide from just a $15 million budget.