Brendan Fraser’s Heartfelt Reason For The Mummy 4 Will Have Millennials Cheering

So, the internet did what it does best: saw the words 'Brendan Fraser' and 'Rachel Weisz' and 'new Mummy movie' in the same sentence and immediately lost its mind. Honestly, same. And based on how Fraser is talking about it, he sounds more than ready to strap the holsters back on as Rick O'Connell.

Fraser says the appetite is still there

Fraser told USA Today he had just come from a fan convention in Minnesota, and if you needed a reminder that this franchise still lives rent-free in a lot of heads, here you go:

"I spend plenty of time at a desk signing so many pictures of Rick O'Connell and 'Mummy' swag and posters in fan conventions."

He also talked about how the audience that grew up on these movies wants more O'Connell adventures, and how those same fans are now showing the series to their kids. If you were there in 1999 when the first one hit (and then stayed for the trilogy), you can feel that generational baton pass he’s describing. After stepping back from acting for a while, Fraser’s been back in the spotlight — yes, that was him in Killers of the Flower Moon — and this is the kind of swing that makes sense for him to take.

The lost fourth movie that almost happened

Here’s the part a lot of people have forgotten: a fourth Mummy movie was already on the books after 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Universal had penciled in a 2011 follow-up called The Mummy: Rise of the Aztec. It didn’t happen, but there were real pieces in motion:

- Brendan Fraser was set to return, and Rachel Weisz was expected to be back as Evy. (In the 2008 film, Weisz sat out and Maria Bello took over the role.)

- John Hannah was due back as Jonathan Carnahan, with Luke Ford returning as the O’Connells’ son, Alex.

- Jeremy Irons and David Ryall were attached at various points.

- Rob Cohen, who directed Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (the Jet Li one), was lined up to direct again.

- Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) wrote the script.

The plot? The O’Connells would head to South America on a hunt for Aztec gold. Things turn dark when Evy is enslaved and prepped as a sacrifice to an Aztec mummy by Peruvians. It was a different flavor for the series, geographically and mythologically, but still very much in that pulpy, swashbuckling lane. Then the project fell apart and the franchise went quiet.

Could the new movie borrow that Aztec setup?

No one has confirmed that, but if Fraser and Weisz really are circling a return, dusting off a fully outlined (and once-cast) concept would be the path of least resistance. It’s speculation, but it’s logical speculation.

The villain wish list (because yes, we all have one)

Fun wrinkle: back when Rise of the Aztec was percolating, Antonio Banderas was in the mix to play the bad guy. That still makes a ton of sense today. If Universal wants alternates, here are a few heavy hitters who fit the vibe and could chew ancient scenery with the best of them:

• Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer - 49 years
• Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained - 69 years
• Javier Bardem - Dune, Skyfall, No Country for Old Men - 56 years
• Hugh Grant - Heretic - 65 years

Where to rewatch

If you want to revisit the sandstorms and scarabs, The Mummy movies are available to stream on Amazon Video.

As for this new chapter: reports say Fraser and Weisz are back on board, Fraser’s clearly into it, and there’s a ready-made adventure sitting on the shelf. More as it develops.