Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz’s return to The Mummy franchise now has an official title, and it should sound familiar to longtime fans.
The upcoming sequel will be called The Mummy: Book of the Dead. The franchise’s official social media account announced the title on October 15, exactly one year before its scheduled theatrical release.
For anyone who remembers Evelyn Carnahan’s enthusiasm for ancient texts, the title brings one famous line to mind.
Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in The Mummy – Universal Pictures
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“It’s just a book, no harm ever came from reading a book.”
As the original film demonstrated, there are exceptions.
The Mummy Returns to a Familiar Book
The official announcement gives the project previously known as The Mummy 4 a subtitle rooted in the franchise’s supernatural mythology.
In one year, The Mummy: Book of the Dead opens. In theaters October 15, 2027. https://t.co/IWecTchmxQ
— The Mummy (@themummy) October 15, 2026
In the 1999 film, Evelyn reads aloud from the Book of the Dead, inadvertently awakening the cursed priest Imhotep. Her confidence that reading is harmless quickly becomes one of the adventure’s most memorable jokes.
The new title invites questions about who might open the book this time and what consequences could follow. However, plot details remain undisclosed, leaving its role in the story uncertain.
The cast of The Mummy – Universal Pictures
The subtitle also suggests a return to the franchise’s Egyptian mythology after 2008’s disappointing The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. That film’s events will reportedly be disregarded, although how the sequel handles continuity remains to be seen.
For now, the title offers another connection to the adventures that made Fraser and Weisz such a popular pairing.
Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz Reunite
As That Park Place previously reported, Fraser is returning as Rick O’Connell alongside Weisz as Evelyn.
The reunion marks Weisz’s first appearance in the series since 2001’s The Mummy Returns. Maria Bello played Evelyn opposite Fraser in Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, whose credits include Ready or Not and the recent Scream sequels, will direct from a screenplay by David Coggeshall.
Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in a screenshot from The Mummy – Universal Pictures
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The cast also includes John Hannah, Oded Fehr, Kevin J. O’Connor, Michael Johnston, and Numan Acar.
Production is already underway. In a September update, Fraser said filming would begin after his appearance at France’s Deauville festival.
He also discussed his physical preparation for the role, joking that he would gladly leave some dangerous work to the stunt team.
Can the Revival Recapture the Original’s Charm?
Bringing back familiar faces gives Universal a promising starting point. The greater challenge is recreating the balance that made their adventures worth revisiting.
The change behind the camera leaves a significant question. Stephen Sommers, who directed the first two installments and helped establish their spirited adventure tone, is not returning to direct.
Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett have experience blending horror with humor. This time, they must also capture the romance, spectacle, and swashbuckling energy that defined the earlier films.
Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in an action scene from The Mummy – Universal Pictures
The original Mummy combined monsters and peril with physical comedy and heroes who remained likable even when their decisions caused disaster. Evelyn’s reassurance about reading captures that appeal: sincere curiosity followed by spectacularly unfortunate consequences.
A familiar book can supply another supernatural threat, while Fraser and Weisz bring their chemistry. Whether the revival succeeds will depend on giving them an adventure worthy of their return.
The Mummy: Book of the Dead opens in theaters on October 15, 2027. Hopefully, someone has learned to check before reading aloud.
What do you think of the title for The Mummy revival? Sound off and let us know!
