The action-adventure horror film The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise in the lead role, will not be filmed in Malta, Times of Malta has learnt.

The decision to shelve Malta was taken for "creative" reasons due to changes in the script, a source close to the production said.

The production team scouted various locations around Malta last January, especially Fort Ricasoli in Kalkara. Cruise, who was nominated for three Academy Awards and won three Golden Globe Awards, flew to Malta for a day in February to also inspect the locations.

The Mummy forms part of Universal’s resurgence of horror films based on its classic monster characters. The film was released in 1999, a loose remake of the 1932 film by the same name. It was followed by two instalments in 2001 and 2008, with the spinoff film The Scorpion King in between.

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