Tom Cruise wrapped up in talks for a revamp of The Mummy

Tom Cruise in talks over remake of The Mummy films, with Universal hoping to bring it's monster genre to the fore. Photo / Getty

Actor Tom Cruise is reportedly in talks to star in a planned reboot of The Mummy.

The Mission: Impossible star is at the top of the shortlist to lead the film, as Hollywood studio Universal looks for a big star to anchor the movie, according to Variety.com.

While no further details have been given on Cruise's involvement, Transformers screenwriter Alex Kurtzman has been recruited to direct and produce the reboot, which is set in the present day and features new characters.

Brendan Fraser starred in the 1999 version of the action original action/adventure film, as well as its two sequels, The Mummy Returns and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

Actor Brendan Fraser starred in the original Mummy films and is expected to be replaced in a new installment, to be set in the modern day. Photo / Getty

A Variety report said Universal hired Kurtzman to bring the company's monster genre to the forefront, but would not comment on casting.

The report added that Jon Spaihts will write the script, with characters from Universal's monster library expected to appear across multiple films.

The Mummy reboot is slated to hit cinemas in 2017.

-AAP