Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in Talks to Revive The Mummy Franchise After 17 Years
In what can only be described as the most thrilling resurrection since, well, an actual mummy, Universal Pictures is breathing new life into one of cinema’s most beloved adventure franchises. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz—the irresistible duo who first led us into ancient Egyptian tombs in 1999—are reportedly in talks to return for a new Mummy sequel, sending waves of nostalgic euphoria through Hollywood and beyond.
The news arrives like a perfectly preserved artifact unearthed after decades: unexpected, exhilarating, and utterly magnificent. Fraser, whose career renaissance culminated in a well-deserved Oscar for The Whale in 2022, and Weisz, who has continued to captivate in everything from Marvel’s Black Widow to Amazon’s gender-swapped Dead Ringers, are poised to reclaim the roles that transformed them into action-adventure royalty.
This isn’t merely a reboot—it’s a homecoming with intention. Sources suggest the new installment will function as a direct sequel, strategically disregarding the events of 2008’s third film (which saw Maria Bello step into Weisz’s formidable shoes). It’s a bold creative decision that honors the franchise’s golden era while offering a fresh narrative canvas. David Coggeshall has penned the screenplay, though plot details remain as tightly guarded as a pharaoh’s burial chamber.
At the helm stands Radio Silence, the visionary filmmaking duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Their credits read like a masterclass in revitalizing beloved properties—from the wickedly clever Ready or Not to their successful resurrection of the Scream franchise. Their involvement suggests this won’t be a mere cash grab but rather a carefully crafted continuation worthy of Stephen Sommers’ original vision, which so brilliantly melded Indiana Jones-style adventure with gothic horror and swooning romance.
The producing team reunites Sean Daniel, who shepherded the original trilogy alongside his late partner James Jacks, with Project X Entertainment’s William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein—frequent Radio Silence collaborators whose portfolio includes Abigail and the recent Scream installments.
The original Mummy wasn’t just a film—it was a cultural phenomenon. With its $422.5 million box office haul, it launched Fraser into A-list stratosphere and spawned an empire: sequels, The Scorpion King prequel featuring an early Dwayne Johnson, an animated series, and that gloriously campy Universal Studios Hollywood ride we’ve all pretended to be too sophisticated to enjoy (but absolutely loved).
Timing, as they say, is everything. Universal reportedly initiated conversations with Fraser around his Oscar triumph, recognizing that his remarkable career resurgence presented the perfect moment to resurrect this dormant franchise. Fraser’s upcoming Rental Family arrives November 21st, while Radio Silence’s Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is slated for April 2026.
The question now isn’t whether audiences will embrace this return—it’s whether we’re emotionally prepared for it. After all, some treasures are worth the wait.
