Universal Pictures is breathing new life into one of its most beloved adventure franchises, with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz officially set to reunite for another ‘Mummy’ film. The upcoming project will be directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking duo behind Scream VI and Ready or Not.
The new entry marks the fourth instalment in the decades-spanning franchise that first launched in 1999. Fraser’s original portrayal of Rick O’Connell — a charming yet reckless adventurer who inadvertently awakens a cursed Egyptian priest — turned The Mummy into a global box office phenomenon, while Rachel Weisz’s performance as brilliant Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan became equally iconic.
The success of the original film spawned two sequels: ‘The Mummy Returns’ (2001), which brought back both Fraser and Weisz, and ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ (2008), which continued O’Connell’s adventures in China but without Weisz’s involvement.
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Fraser’s return to the role follows his acclaimed Hollywood comeback, including an Academy Award win for The Whale. Fans have long called for a reunion with Weisz, whose own career has flourished with acclaimed performances in ‘The Favourite,’ ‘Disobedience,’ and Marvel’s ‘Black Widow.’
Universal last attempted to revive ‘The Mummy’ in 2017 with Tom Cruise, aiming to launch a shared “Dark Universe” of classic movie monsters. However, the film was a critical and commercial disappointment, and plans for the cinematic universe were abandoned.
Further plot details and additional casting announcements are expected in the coming months.
