Tom Cruise Refused On-Screen Kiss With Annabelle Wallis

When Universal set out to revive The Mummy with Tom Cruise and Annabelle Wallis, expectations were high for a new franchise. Yet, the production was beset by difficulties, and the final result left many unimpressed. Wallis, who played Cruise’s romantic counterpart, recently recounted a particularly uncomfortable incident during filming that left her rather embarrassed.

Awkward Moment on Set

Wallis shared her experience on a talk show, describing how she had been looking forward to a pivotal scene. She arrived on set, ready for what she thought would be a highlight of her role, only for Cruise to abruptly change his mind.

…I arrive on set and am like c’mon Tom, it’s about to be the best day of your life. And then he goes, ‘Yeah about that. Alex, can we have a chat? I’m not feeling that. I’m not feeling the kissing scene.’ And he talked himself out of kissing me in front of 900 people. Can you imagine what I felt like? Not good.

The moment, witnessed by hundreds, left Wallis feeling rather deflated.

Given that Wallis was cast as the main love interest, many viewers assumed a romantic scene would be inevitable. The absence of such a moment only added to the sense that something was amiss in the film’s execution.

The Dark Universe That Wasn't

The Mummy was intended to launch Universal’s Dark Universe, a shared world of classic monsters. With Cruise at the helm, the project seemed promising on paper. However, the film’s performance at the box office—taking in around $410 million worldwide—fell short of expectations, especially considering its substantial budget.

Key details about the production include its 2017 release, direction by Alex Kurtzman, and a cast featuring Sofia Boutella, Russell Crowe, and Jake Johnson alongside Cruise and Wallis. Despite the star power, the film struggled to find its footing, both critically and commercially.

Wallis’s portrayal was criticised for lacking depth, with her character reduced to little more than a visual accessory. This was a disappointment, given her previous strong performances in other series.

Flat Chemistry and Creative Control

One of the most notable shortcomings was the lack of chemistry between the leads. Unlike the dynamic pairing of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in the 1999 version, Cruise and Wallis’s interactions felt forced and unconvincing. The script did little to help, with intimate scenes coming across as awkward rather than engaging.

Interestingly, Wallis has credited Cruise with saving her during a dangerous stunt involving zero gravity, suggesting there was at least some camaraderie off-camera. Yet, this did not translate into on-screen rapport, and the film’s focus on action over character development left little room for romance.

The Mummy is currently available to stream on Netflix and Prime Video.