Nearly a decade after its release, and with the recent appearance of Le Réveil de la Momie in theaters, many might struggle to recall Tom Cruise's version of La Momie. Yet, this film was once destined to launch Universal's answer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe – a sprawling monster shared world featuring an incredibly prestigious cast including Russell Crowe, Angelina Jolie, and Johnny Depp. The grand plan, however, never saw the light of day.

The Dark Universe, announced with considerable fanfare just before La Momie's theatrical debut, remains one of the most glaring and costly failures in Universal's recent history. Lingering relics, such as the now-infamous 'fake group photo' intended to promote the ensemble, continue to serve as a humbling reminder of its demise. This provides a prime opportunity to dissect this cinematic cadaver, giving it a few more prods to understand precisely where it went wrong.