Hollywood has official word that the studio behind one of its most beloved action-adventure franchises is moving ahead: Universal Pictures is returning to the world of The Mummy films, and both Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are reportedly in discussions to reprise their roles from the earlier instalments. Multiple sources tell industry magazine Deadline that they are in talks, though the studio has declined to comment and plot details remain tightly under wraps.
Behind the scenes, the forthcoming fourth instalment is said to be directed by filmmaking pair Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett of the Radio Silence collective, working from a script by David Coggeshall (whose credits include The Family Plan and The Deliverance). Veteran franchise producer Sean Daniel is on board, alongside William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein of Project X Entertainment. The project reunites Radio Silence and Project X, following their recent work together on modern horror-franchise entries.
Fraser and Weisz first teamed up in two major hits: 1999’s The Mummy, where Fraser played Rick O’Connell and Weisz played Evelyn Carnahan, and 2001’s The Mummy Returns. The former was produced on a budget of around US$80 million and grossed approximately US$422.5 million worldwide. The sequel achieved around US$435 million globally. These figures underline how much the pair — and the franchise — captured audiences’ imagination at the time.
The films not only proved box-office successes but also became embedded in popular culture, spawning theme-park attractions and a broader Mummy brand. The 1999 film paved the way for further spin-offs, such as The Scorpion King (2002), and helped cement Fraser as one of the biggest action stars of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
In recent years, Brendan Fraser’s career has mounted a remarkable comeback. Most significantly, his lead role in The Whale (2022) earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor — an achievement widely seen as vindication after a quieter decade in Hollywood. In his emotional acceptance speech, he spoke about “the perseverance required to stay afloat and find the light again.”
Rachel Weisz, already an Oscar winner, continues to be a strong presence in major productions including Prime Video’s Dead Ringers and Marvel’s Black Widow. The timing of this new Mummy entry appears to tap into both the wave of nostalgia for the original films and renewed global interest in its stars.
For Irish audiences, particularly those who grew up watching Fraser and Weisz in the original Mummy adventures, this reunion promises a major cinematic event. The blend of familiar characters and modern filmmaking talent gives Universal a built-in audience heading into the project — one that could help revitalise the franchise for both legacy fans and new viewers. With the studio’s recent struggles in the modern monster-movie arena, returning to a proven classic looks like a strategically sound move.
Plot details remain undisclosed and no release date has been confirmed. But given the calibre of talent involved — both in front of and behind the camera — the return of The Mummy franchise is shaping up to be a high-profile revival.
