Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz Are Back for The Mummy 4 — 5 Original Stars Who Need to Return Next

Well, that took long enough. A proper Mummy sequel is finally moving again, and it sounds like the franchise might actually course-correct instead of doubling down on past mistakes.

What is happening, exactly

Per THR, a fourth Mummy movie is in the works with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in talks to return as Rick O'Connell and Evelyn Carnahan. The directing team is Radio Silence — Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett — the duo behind 2019's 'Ready or Not.' Producer Sean Daniel, who shepherded the original films with his late partner James Jacks, is back. Radio Silence's frequent collaborators William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein are also producing under Project X Entertainment.

Key piece of clarity: this is not a reboot. The plan is to pick up after the events of 'The Mummy Returns' and ignore 'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor' entirely. So yes, the studio is basically saying: that one did not happen.

Why the reset

'Tomb of the Dragon Emperor' left a bad taste. Critics gave it 13% on Rotten Tomatoes and audiences weren’t kind either (30%). A lot of fans have been pretending it doesn’t exist for years. This new approach seems designed to meet them where they already are.

Who we want back (and why)

• John Hannah (Jonathan Carnahan)

  Jonathan is the franchise's secret weapon: a lovable, trouble-magnet dirtbag with perfect comic timing. He did pop up in 'Dragon Emperor' and tried to retire to a place without mummies (Peru, tough break), but since the new film is skipping that chapter, his status is wide open. Fans are already calling for him, and honestly, same.

  Recent work: Damaged; Bermondsey Tales: Fall of the Roman Empire; the miniseries The Decameron. Radio Times says he’s set for the detective series 'Death in Benidorm.'

• Oded Fehr (Ardeth Bay)

  The Medjai leader gives these movies their moral compass and cool factor. He helped keep Imhotep in the ground (twice) and tried to stop the Scorpion King from getting loose. If this one lives in the original timeline, bringing back Ardeth Bay feels essential — and Fehr sounds up for it.

  "I can’t tell you. What I can tell you is that if there’s a possibility that it will make money, they’ll try and do it. I hope we get a chance to do this again. I can tell you that we all would be happy to do it again... I’d be the most blessed human being to get to work with these guys again."

• Arnold Vosloo (Imhotep)

  Yes, this is complicated. In 'The Mummy Returns,' Imhotep loses the will to live after a brutal betrayal and drops into the abyss. But Vosloo’s tragic, towering villain is a huge reason these films stuck. Even a smartly placed flashback — or a reluctant, temporary alliance — would add weight. If we’re returning to the original continuity, ignoring the franchise’s most iconic antagonist would feel off.

• Patricia Velasquez (Anck-su-namun)

  Imhotep’s great love helped power the whole saga. In 'Returns,' she abandons him to save herself and gets instant karma courtesy of a scorpion pit. Far-fetched as a full resurrection might be, seeing her reenter the story — or reframe her as her own power player — would be delicious.

  "This was a movie that changed my life and kind of set the course of my acting career. Up until today, it doesn’t matter how many projects you’ve done, you will always be Anck-Su-Namun."

• Freddie Boath (Alex O'Connell)

  Rick and Evy’s kid was whip-smart, brave, and very much his parents’ son in 'Returns' — he even used the Book of the Dead to bring Evy back after Anck-su-namun took her out. If the new film follows from that era, Alex is the obvious card to play. Recasting would not be shocking, but bringing Boath back would be a neat full-circle move.

  Reality check: he pivoted to marketing and advertising in recent years (per Looper) and last acted in 2013’s House of Anubis, so this one may be a long shot.

The vibe right now

This is early days — no dates, no logline, just a direction that makes sense and the right people circling. Fan chatter is already firing up, with names like Erick Avari popping up alongside the core crew above. If Fraser and Weisz seal their deals and Radio Silence gets to do their thing, this could be the redemption chapter the series has needed since 2008.

Want a refresher before the band gets back together? 'The Mummy' and 'The Mummy Returns' are streaming on MGM+.