“The Mummy” was not one of director Alex Kurtzman’s proudest moments.
The 2017 Tom Cruise-led film was Kurtzman’s second time directing. He is largely known for being a producer and creator of “Hawaii Five-0,” “Transformers” and “Star Trek” franchise shows and movies.
During an appearance on The Playlist’s “Bingeworthy” podcast Friday, Kurtzman called “The Mummy” the “biggest failure of my life, both personally and professionally.”
“There’s about a million things I regret about it, but it also gave me so many gifts that are inexpressibly beautiful,” he continued. “I didn’t become a director until I made that movie, and it wasn’t because it was well-directed — it was because it wasn’t.”
Tom Cruise in “The Mummy.”
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Kurtzman added that the Cruise film “rebuilt me into a tougher person, and it also rebuilt me into a clearer filmmaker.”
He proceeded to call the film a “real gift” because he’s become more secure in trusting his instincts. “I’m very clear now when I have a feeling that doesn’t feel right,” Kurtzman said during the podcast. “I am not quiet about it anymore. I will literally not proceed when I feel that feeling. It’s not worth it to me.”
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Kurtzman’s first time directing was for 2012 movie “People Like Us.”
Since “The Mummy,” he’s directed a few episodes in “The Man Who Fell to Earth” and an episode of “Star Trek: Discovery,” per IMDB. Kurtzman, b has largely stuck with writing and producing.