While much of the conversation around The Mummy has focused on its bold reinvention of horror, for Laia Costa, the real revelation lay behind the camera in the dynamic, ever-evolving process of working with director Lee Cronin. Costa, who plays Larissa in the film, describes an experience that was as creatively fluid as it was demanding, driven largely by Cronin’s distinctive approach to filmmaking.
“It’s been such a pleasure. He’s fun and an amazing film director,” she says. “I think he has his own world in his mind, and the way he works on set is very enjoyable for an actor because he makes sure you are part of the creative process.”
What stood out most to Costa was Cronin’s ability to balance clarity of vision with openness to change a rare combination that shaped the film in real time. “He wants to involve everyone, and he’s very open to listen to new ideas. At the same time, he has a very clear idea of what he needs and what he wants,” she explains. “You can almost see his editing while you’re shooting.”
That instinctive filmmaking style often meant the script itself remained fluid throughout production. Rather than sticking rigidly to pre-planned material, Cronin embraced spontaneity. “He might walk into a location and think, ‘I should be doing this or that scene here,’ and then rewrite,” Costa reveals. “Or after watching us in a scene, he’d say, ‘I think I need to write something else.’ He’s always taking ideas in and reshaping the material, and we’re basically surfing along with him.”
For an actor, that kind of unpredictability can be both challenging and liberating something Costa clearly embraced. The constant evolution kept performances fresh, while also allowing moments to emerge organically. At the same time, Cronin ensured that the intensity of the film’s darker themes never overwhelmed the atmosphere on set.
“Lee wants to keep the set light, fun, and creatively active,” Costa says. “He’s always working toward that good energy, which is especially important on a film like this.”
That sense of balance extended beyond the director to the entire crew, many of whom had collaborated with Cronin before. “The crew on set were filmmaking lovers for sure. Lee has worked with many of them before, so they know each other very well, and it feels like a family,” she shares. “That makes everything easier, because filmmaking can be exhausting, especially over four months abroad.”
The familiarity and shared passion helped the team navigate the inevitable pressures of a long shoot. “Things can get rushed and stressful, but when it feels like a family, it’s much easier to ride those waves,” Costa adds. If anything, Costa’s experience suggests that The Mummy (2026) isn’t just a reinvention of a classic monster story it’s also the product of a highly collaborative and adaptive creative process.
And at the centre of it all is Cronin, a filmmaker she sums up with a fitting metaphor: someone who can seamlessly shift between tones, ideas, and emotions all while keeping his cast and crew in sync.
In Costa’s words, he’s nothing short of “a magician.”
Also Read: Laia Costa on fear, motherhood, and why The Mummy is unlike anything before; “I don’t watch horror”
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