The Mummy was part of a larger ‘Dark Universe’ we may never see

Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

Following the theatrical release of Lee Cronin’s The Mummy earlier this year, observant horror enthusiasts were quick to spot a curious overlap with the director’s previous hit, Evil Dead Rise. The mystery centers on Professor Bixler (Mark Mitchinson), a key character in The Mummy who provides insight into the film’s ancient curse, sharing a surname with Beth Bixler (Lily Sullivan) from Evil Dead Rise. Naturally, this sparked speculation: was this a mere nod to his past work, or a deliberate breadcrumb pointing toward a shared “Cronin-verse”?

At the time, the director offered a coy response to Collider, suggesting the character could simply be a “distant relative.” With the physical media release of The Mummy arriving on July 14, we caught up with Cronin to press for a more definitive answer regarding his interconnected filmography.

His insights into his creative process suggest that the links between his projects run deeper than viewers might have realized.

“I tend to operate under the assumption that everything I write resides in some sort of connected reality,” Cronin shared with us. “That said, I largely enjoy playing with those connections for my own amusement.”

Regarding the Bixler connection, the director offered a grounded explanation, though he left the door open for interpretation. “It’s a classic Irish family trait to have cousins you’ve never actually crossed paths with. In this case, that’s likely the extent of the link.”

However, Cronin was quick to reveal a more specific Easter egg that likely flew under the radar for most audiences.

“Keep your eyes peeled for a golden cheese grater lamp hidden in the background,” he teased, referencing one of the most visceral and unsettling sequences from Evil Dead Rise. “There are a handful of these hidden details tucked into the first act of The Mummy if you know where to look.”

Ultimately, while Cronin isn’t explicitly building a formal cinematic universe, he isn’t shutting down the theory, either. He remains a filmmaker who delights in internal cross-pollination.

“I’m a massive film fan and I love a good Easter egg,” Cronin admitted. “I find joy in connectivity and the way ideas can cross-pollinate between projects. It’s a way to weave in my own influences and have a bit of fun—I honestly can’t help myself.”

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is currently available on digital platforms and arrives on 4K UHD on July 14.

Source: Polygon