Dust off your adventurer’s gear and prepare to face the wrath of ancient curses once more, because the news we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. Universal’s beloved action-adventure franchise, The Mummy, is rising from the tomb, and it’s bringing back the iconic duo that made it a global phenomenon. That’s right—Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are in talks to reunite for Mummy 4, a brand-new sequel that promises to recapture the magic, humor, and heart of the original films.
For years, fans have championed the return of Fraser’s swashbuckling Rick O’Connell and Weisz’s brilliant Evelyn Carnahan. After a critically panned reboot and a long hiatus, it seemed like the franchise might remain buried in the sands of time. But thanks to a perfect storm of fan nostalgia, the triumphant return of Brendan Fraser to the Hollywood A-list, and a fresh creative team, the stars have aligned for a proper revival. Here is everything we know about the return of one of cinema’s most beloved adventure series.
Caption: Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz as Rick O’Connell and Evelyn Carnahan in The Mummy (1999). Credit: Universal Pictures. Source: IMDb
The Original Duo Is Back in the Director’s Chair
The most electrifying part of this announcement is, without a doubt, the return of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. According to breaking news from Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety, both stars are officially in discussions to reprise their roles. This news comes at the peak of the “Brenaissance,” a massive wave of public support that celebrated Fraser’s powerful, Oscar-winning performance in 2022’s The Whale.
Fraser himself has been vocal about his willingness to return. During the press tour for The Whale, he told Variety, “I don’t know how it would work, but I’d be open to it, if someone came up with the right conceit.” His affection for the character and the franchise has been a driving force behind the fan campaigns, and it seems Universal has finally found the “right conceit” to bring him back.
Weisz’s return is equally crucial. Her portrayal of the sharp, witty, and courageous Egyptologist Evelyn was the perfect counterpart to Fraser’s rugged hero. Their on-screen chemistry was the heart of the first two films, and a true sequel would have felt incomplete without her.
A New Creative Vision with a Proven Track Record
Stepping in to guide this new adventure is the directing collective Radio Silence, comprised of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. This is a name that should have horror and action fans very excited. Radio Silence is the team behind the recent revitalization of the Scream franchise, successfully blending legacy characters with new blood to create something that felt both nostalgic and modern. They also directed the critically acclaimed breakout hit Ready or Not, a film celebrated for its masterful blend of dark humor, suspense, and thrilling action.
Their involvement signals that the studio is serious about getting this right. They understand how to honor a beloved property while injecting it with fresh energy. The script is being handled by David Coggeshall, known for action-comedy films, and franchise veteran Sean Daniel is returning to produce, ensuring the new film maintains the DNA of the originals.
Forgetting the Past: A True Sequel to The Mummy Returns
One of the most significant details to emerge is that this new film will reportedly be a direct sequel to The Mummy Returns (2001), choosing to ignore the events of the less-popular third installment, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008). In that film, Weisz was replaced by Maria Bello, and the story shifted from Egypt to China—a move that many fans felt strayed too far from the series’ roots.
By positioning itself as a true Mummy 3, the new film can pick up with Rick and Evie where we last saw them, presumably with their son Alex (played by Freddie Boath in The Mummy Returns). This decision respects the core of the franchise and the characters that audiences fell in love with.
Fraser himself diagnosed the issues with later attempts to revive the series, specifically the 2017 Tom Cruise-led reboot. He astutely pointed out that the key ingredient missing was “fun.” He told Variety, “It was too much of a straight-ahead horror movie. ‘The Mummy’ should be a thrill ride, but not terrifying and scary.” This insight aligns perfectly with Radio Silence’s filmmaking style and suggests that Mummy 4 will bring back the rollercoaster sense of adventure that made the original a classic.
Caption: The official theatrical poster for The Mummy (1999). Credit: Universal Pictures. Source: IMDb
Why Universal’s Dark Universe Failure Paved the Way for This Return
The 2017 version of The Mummy was supposed to be the launching pad for Universal’s ambitious “Dark Universe,” an interconnected series of films based on their classic movie monsters. However, the film’s poor critical reception and underwhelming box office performance led the studio to abandon the project, as detailed by publications like The Guardian. While a failure at the time, the collapse of the Dark Universe may have been a blessing in disguise. It forced the studio to rethink its approach to its monster properties, moving away from interconnected universes and back toward creator-driven films that honor the source material.
This new Mummy film is a direct result of that strategic shift. Instead of trying to force a shared universe, Universal is focusing on what made the franchise work in the first place: compelling characters, thrilling action, and a heavy dose of fun. It’s a strategy that has worked for other legacy sequels, and it’s one that has fans incredibly optimistic. For another example of a beloved franchise getting a new chapter, see our coverage of Percy Jackson Season 2.
What’s Next for Rick and Evie?
With no official release date or plot synopsis, all we can do is speculate on what awaits our heroes. Will they face their old nemesis, Imhotep, once again? Or will a new, even more powerful evil emerge from the sands? Will John Hannah return as Evie’s hilariously bumbling brother, Jonathan? The possibilities are endless, but one thing is certain: the return of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz to the world of The Mummy is one of the most exciting movie developments in years.
We will be following this story closely and will bring you all the updates as they are unearthed.
Resources
Deadline: https://deadline.com/2025/11/new-mummy-movie-brendan-fraser-rachel-weisz-radio-silence-1236606781/
The Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/new-mummy-movie-brendan-fraser-rachel-weisz-1236418031/
Variety: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/the-mummy-4-brendan-fraser-rachel-weisz-1236569746/
