According to Deadline, Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are already in talks to join the cast. They played treasure-hunting scholars Rick O'Connell and Evelyn Carnahan.
Before that nostalgic tear dries, let's dive into what we know about this new installment.
Who's Making the New Film?
Universal Studios is staying tight-lipped for now, but details about the project are already emerging. And they're pretty intriguing.Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. This duo has experience reviving beloved franchises.
They previously rebooted the cult classic "Scream" (directing the fifth and sixth films) and made the vampire horror "Abigail," which earned strong critical praise (83% on Rotten Tomatoes).
But the horror didn't perform well at the box office. So the directors need a guaranteed hit. That's exactly what a fourth "Mummy" film could deliver.
Plus, Sean Daniel, who produced the original films, has joined the development team.
Why Fraser and Weisz?
They're the faces of the franchise (let's not count the failed reboots and spin-offs with Dwayne Johnson and Tom Cruise).
Fraser returned for the third installment, "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" (2008), but Rachel didn't. She was replaced by another actress, and... judging by critics' and audiences' reactions, that's when many started considering the franchise dead.
Fans didn't forgive the casting shake-up. You can understand why. The third "Mummy" became the franchise's biggest flop, earning just 13% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics slammed it for being dull, predictable, a "soulless cash grab," and poorly written.
That's why many on social media are calling this new film "the real third part" — what it should've been all along.
How Audiences Are Reacting
Viewers have mixed feelings about the franchise's return, but the mood is mostly positive:- "Actually, Brendan has changed a lot and lost weight recently."
- "Fraser probably won't be jumping through tombs with a revolver like a young hero anymore. I think he and Rachel will appear as parents of a new adventurer or something like that. But there's still hope for a good sequel, especially since they're ignoring part 3."
- "We need more films like this now."
- "I'm constantly rewatching the first one — what an amazing film. The actors were so young, beautiful, and charismatic. The music, the atmosphere."
- "Can't wait for the new part! I'll get to revisit my childhood and youth, even if just for a moment!"
- "Just hope they don't tarnish the classics."
"The Mummy" Is More Than Just Fraser
By the way, if you think the franchise only consists of three films with Fraser, a spin-off with The Rock, and a reboot with Cruise, you're seriously mistaken. The universe's history is far more extensive.
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British Hammer Version (1959–1971): four more films, darker in tone, with Christopher Lee (that's Saruman from "The Lord of the Rings").
Sommers Trilogy (1999–2008): our favorite. Interestingly, 1999's "The Mummy" was originally supposed to be directed by Clive Barker (creator of "Hellraiser") as a dark, low-budget horror flick. But the studio went with a fun adventure blockbuster instead.
Spin-offs: there were five (!) more "Scorpion King" movies (where Dwayne Johnson made his debut) and an animated series.
Dark Universe Failure (2017): "The Mummy" with Tom Cruise was supposed to launch a monster cinematic universe. The film made $409 million but got destroyed by critics, and Universal pulled the plug on the project.
Now a new installment is in the works. Brendan Fraser is currently experiencing a career resurgence after winning an Oscar for "The Whale," and Rachel Weisz remains a stunning femme fatale who also has a golden statuette to her name.
There's a real chance Rick and Evelyn will find themselves back in Egypt. Let's just hope Imhotep doesn't return again—that would feel like old news. And earlier on zoomboola.com, we covered the new film "A House of Dynamite": 5 reasons to watch the thriller with Rebecca Ferguson about a deadly missile.
