Brendan Fraser Confirms Production Start for New ‘The Mummy’ Film

Some franchises never truly fade away; they simply await the right moment to be resurrected. Universal’s adventure series centered around a cursed Egyptian priest and the unfortunate treasure hunters who awaken him has long been one of Hollywood’s most sought-after revivals, with fans eagerly anticipating a proper sequel long after the franchise went silent.

That anticipation seems to be coming to an end. The long-awaited fourth ‘Mummy’ film has transitioned from mere speculation to reality, with its cast, creative team, and storyline gradually becoming clearer over recent months.

According to Brendan Fraser, production on the new movie is set to commence imminently. The actor confirmed the shoot alongside a cast that includes Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Kevin J. O’Connor, Oded Fehr, and Michael Johnston. This update aligns with previous reports from JoBlo, indicating that filming is scheduled to begin this fall in locations across London and Morocco.

Fraser and Weisz are both reprising their iconic roles as adventurer Rick O’Connell and Egyptologist Evelyn O’Connell, marking a significant return for the franchise that first debuted in 1999. Weisz’s involvement is particularly noteworthy since she did not participate in 2008’s ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’, meaning this new installment effectively continues the beloved original duology.

John Hannah is also back as Evelyn’s brother Jonathan, joined by returning franchise favorites Kevin J. O’Connor as Beni and Oded Fehr as Ardeth Bay, as reported by Dread Central. New cast members include Numan Acar and Michael Johnston, the breakout star from the horror hit ‘Obsession’, who is widely speculated to portray Alex, the grown son of Rick and Evelyn.

Directing the film will be Radio Silence, the filmmaking duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, known for revitalizing the ‘Scream’ franchise and directing ‘Ready or Not’. They will work from a screenplay by David Coggeshall, and while they have been intentionally vague about the plot, they have generated excitement about the film’s tone.

Gillett described the project as “really beautiful and scary and sweeping” in comments reported by Outlook India, while Bettinelli-Olpin noted that Fraser and Weisz wouldn’t have signed on unless they were genuinely enthusiastic about the script. Fraser himself echoed this sentiment on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, stating, “we’re gonna get the band back together, the only way to do it right,” while humorously mentioning that he’s working to get back into shape for the role, joking about his “fifty-seven-year-old gear.”

The new film will reportedly disregard the events of ‘Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’, effectively treating ‘The Mummy Returns’ as the last chapter before this new installment picks up the story. Sean Daniel, who has produced every ‘Mummy’ film since the franchise’s inception, is returning once again, alongside producers William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein through Project X Entertainment.

The original ‘Mummy’ grossed over $422.5 million globally back in 1999, helping to establish Fraser as a leading action star and launching a franchise that has since amassed a combined $1.8 billion at the worldwide box office. With production now underway, fans are hopeful that this next chapter can recapture the adventurous charm that made the first two films instant classics.

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