Tom Cruise is to star in a reimagining of Van Helsing.

The Mission: Impossible actor will also produce the remake of the 2004 Hugh Jackman vampire movie alongside Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci's K/O Paper Products in one of the pair's first works under their new two-year first-look production deal with Universal Pictures. The film is expected to be released in 2016.

Alex and Roberto will also tackle a remake of The Mummy as part of their new deal and are delighted to be working with Universal Pictures long-term. "We're thrilled to call Universal Pictures our home. From the moment we sat down with Adam Fogelson [chairman], Donna [Langley, co-chairman] , Peter, Jeff and the entire Uni team, there was an instant flow of inspired ideas. They really understand the importance of building a strong creative team and giving our shared projects their full support. We're proud to start making movies that will live as part of Universal's enduring legacy," they said in a statement.

Universal are equally pleased to be working with the Transformers writers. "Alex and Roberto are extraordinarily talented writers and producers who know the value of a great story in building successful tentpole films. They have been a major part of some of Hollywood's biggest movies and television shows in recent history, and we're eager to have them build on that success at Universal," Adam and Donna said in a statement.