Lee Cronin‘s The Mummy is barely out of the sarcophagus—having just premiered in theaters today—but the filmmaker clearly has no intention of taking a victory lap. In fact, the man who brought us 40 gallons of blood a day is already sharpening his tools for a slate of new nightmares.
While audiences are busy getting acquainted with his version of an ancient curse, Cronin is already talking about everything from 1980s folk horror to Aruban slashers.
Back to the Homeland: “Spiral”
Lee Cronin, who also gave us The Hole in the Ground, is returning to his Irish roots for a new television series titled “Spiral,” which he co-created with Glenn Montgomery.
Speaking to Variety, Cronin described the project as being “dripping in folklore, repression, and the strangeness of the Irish countryside.” If his previous work is any indication, the “strangeness” will likely involve a healthy dose of psychological trauma. The series will be produced under his Wicked/Good banner. And will reunite him with his powerhouse partners at Blumhouse and Atomic Monster.
The Producer’s Ledger: Found Footage and Aruban Slashers
Cronin isn’t just staying behind the camera; he’s also expanding his reach as a producer. He teased two distinct projects currently in development. The first is a found footage nightmare. While its details are under wraps, expect a visceral take on the format. The second is an Aruban slasher that centers on two brothers. Cronin promises a “really, really interesting and different approach” to the slasher genre.
The Next Directorial Nightmare: “Box of Bones”
As for what will officially follow The Mummy in his filmography, Cronin is currently obsessed with a supernatural project called Box of Bones.
This isn’t a new idea; Cronin has been tinkering with it since his debut, The Hole in the Ground. He describes it as a “creepy little triangle between two people and a ghost.” After being pushed down the “pecking order” by Evil Dead Rise and The Mummy, the project is finally moving to the front of the line.
“I’m sitting at my new desk… and I’m like, ‘Is this the thing that’s going to start polluting the desk?’” Cronin joked with Variety.
The Verdict
If you enjoyed the “creeping terror” of his latest monster movie, rest assured that Lee Cronin isn’t taking a break. He’s got a lot of plans. Whether it’s the horror of the Irish countryside or the haunting of Box of Bones, the next few years look exceptionally bright for horror fans—and exceptionally dark forCronin’s characters.
