Reports that Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz were returning for a fourth entry in The Mummy franchise seemed almost too good to be true. But they were not a mirage.
Fraser revealed over the weekend that production on the long-awaited sequel was set to begin the following Monday, nearly two decades after he last portrayed Rick O’Connell in 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
Brendan Fraser as Rick O’Connell and Rachel Weisz as Evelyn Carnahan in The Mummy – Universal Pictures
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“We start Monday morning,” Fraser told Canal+ while attending the American Film Festival of Deauville in France. “So I need to leave Deauville fast. I apologize,” he said in French before repeating himself in English. “I have to be at work Monday morning.”
Fraser also revealed that he has been preparing physically for his return, although the 57-year-old actor joked that he may leave some of Rick’s more dangerous exploits to the professionals this time around.
“I did a lot of physical preparation,” Fraser said. “I guess I’ll just be careful and completely comfortable to tell the stunt team, ‘You’re gonna be great in this shot! Go get them!'”
Brendan Fraser qui nous répond en français, on adore 🫠
La Momie 4 entre en tournage ce lundi, l’acteur vient de nous l’annoncer au Festival du cinéma américain de #Deauville2026. Il reprendra son rôle, tout comme Rachel Weisz et John Hannah. pic.twitter.com/Xh1hiz4lES
— CANAL+ (@canalplus) September 6, 2026
However, Fraser said he isn’t worried about returning to the action-heavy franchise because of the people surrounding him.
“I’m not concerned because of the level of professionalism that I know I’m working alongside,” he explained. “And just the outpouring of enthusiasm around this project! It’s like seeing an old friend again.”
The Original Mummy Cast Is Reuniting
As previously reported, Fraser will reunite with Rachel Weisz, who is returning as Evelyn O’Connell for the first time since 2001’s The Mummy Returns.
Weisz did not appear in Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, with Maria Bello taking over the role of Evelyn.
Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in a screenshot from The Mummy – Universal Pictures
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking duo behind Ready or Not, Scream, and Abigail, will direct from a screenplay by David Coggeshall.
When asked by Entertainment Weekly if Tomb of the Dragon Emperor would remain canon to the franchise, Bettinelli-Olpin replied, “Well, Rachel is in this one.”
Gillett added, “That should answer the question for you.”
Also returning is John Hannah as Evelyn’s brother Jonathan Carnahan, while Oded Fehr will once again portray Ardeth Bay. Somehow, Kevin J. O’Connor will be back as Beni Gabor, despite his character seemingly meeting a gruesome end at the hands of scarab beetles in the original film.
Numan Acar and Obsession actor Michael Johnston have also joined the cast in undisclosed roles.
Can The Mummy Recapture the Magic?
Plot details remain (ahem) under wraps, leaving plenty of questions about how the returning characters will fit into the story.
However, Fraser has previously made clear that he understands what separated his films from Universal’s unsuccessful 2017 attempt to reboot The Mummy with Tom Cruise.
Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in an action scene from The Mummy – Universal Pictures
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“The ingredient that we had going for our Mummy, which I didn’t see in the new one, was fun,” Fraser said in 2022. “It was too much of a straight-ahead horror movie. The Mummy should be a thrill ride, but not terrifying and scary.”
That balance of adventure, horror, romance, and comedy helped make the original Mummy films enduring favorites. With Fraser, Weisz, and much of the original cast returning, Universal appears to recognize that audiences aren’t simply asking for another Mummy movie. They want the kind of Mummy movie that made the franchise popular in the first place.
Are you looking forward to The Mummy 4? Sound off and let us know!
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