Usually a new, younger actor steps in when a studio reboots a film franchise.

Not so in the case of The Mummy.

Universal is reportedly in talks with Tom Cruise, 53, to star in the classic chiller, according to Variety on Tuesday.

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A change of pace: Tom Cruise, seen promoting Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation in Shanghai, China, in September, is reportedly in talks to replace the younger Brendan Fraser in Universal's reboot of The Mummy

He will replace Brendan Frasier, 46, who starred in a trio of films set in ancient Egypt, kicking off with The Mummy in 1999 and ending with The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in 2008.

The action hero is undoubtedly better able to bring fans into theatres as this summer's blockbuster Mission - Impossible: Rogue Nation proved.

By comparison, Brendan hasn't had a breakout role for years.

He's more of a draw: While it's more usual for a younger actor to replace the older one when a studio reboots a franchise, the 53-year-old action hero, picured on the Jack Reacher set, is better able to bring fans into theatres

The Mummy has been remade dozens of times since Boris Karloff first scared audiences in the classic chiller in 1932.

The updated version will kick start Universal’s new era of monster films, sources told the showbiz bible.

The studio has long wanted to capitalise on its classic monster movie library and hired Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan last summer to help develop a monster universe similar to the one that Marvel has with its team of superheroes.

On the run: The hunky star, famous for doing his own stunts, was seen running with co-star Cobie Smulders on set in New Orleans on November 16. He shouldn't have trouble with anything The Mummy throws at him

Alex will direct the movie and produce with Chris.Tom isn’t expected to produce, but he will reportedly play a major part in development.

Van Helsing scribe Jon Spaihts is writing the script that will be set in present day, unlike the previous three installments.

Universal is not commenting on casting, however the Internet Movie Data Base revealed that the reboot follows Navy Seal Tyler Colt, likely Tom's part, on a mission to find terrorists hiding in a bunker in the Iraqi desert.

Young stat: Brendan Fraser, now 46, kicked off the last trio of films in the franchise in 2008 but he hasn't had a breakout role for many years

The terrorists turn out be grave robbers who have all mysteriously died in the bunker. Tyler and his team soon realize the bunker is actually a centuries-old tomb before they also succumb to some strange force. Tyler is the only one who gets out alive.

The chiller is due to hit screens on March 24, 2017.

Like the Avengers franchise, characters from the monster films are expected to crop up in each other’s installments before culminating in a tie-in film.

Meanwhile, Tom is currently filming Jack Reacher: Never Go Back in New Orleans.