The sands of time are shifting once again for Universal Pictures, as the studio officially greenlights The Mummy 4, reuniting Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz as the adventurous archaeologist Rick O’Connell and his witty partner Evelyn Carnahan in a long-awaited sequel to the 1999 blockbuster that grossed $416 million worldwide and spawned a franchise blending high-octane action with campy horror charm. The announcement, confirmed by Variety on November 5, 2025, marks a triumphant return for Fraser, 57, who clawed back into the spotlight with his 2022 Oscar-winning role in The Whale, and Weisz, 55, the Oscar winner from The Constant Gardener who hasn’t revisited the O’Connells since 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Yet, in a twist that has fans buzzing and divided, the project falls under the helm of Radio Silence—the directing duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett behind the 2022 Scream reboot—raising questions about how this fresh vision will mesh with Universal’s other Mummy venture, Lee Cronin’s standalone film slated for 2026.
Fraser’s comeback feels like poetic justice for a career derailed by personal struggles and Hollywood typecasting. The original The Mummy, directed by Stephen Sommers, catapulted him from rom-com everyman to action hero, its mix of practical effects, undead mummies, and Fraser’s boyish bravado cementing cult status. “Rick O’Connell was my Indiana Jones—I’m thrilled to dust him off,” Fraser shared in a Variety exclusive, his enthusiasm palpable after years of advocating for the sequel. Weisz, equally effusive, added, “Evelyn’s spirit lives on; this is a love letter to the fans who kept the adventure alive.” Their chemistry, that perfect blend of Fraser’s bumbling charm and Weisz’s steely intellect, was the franchise’s secret sauce, and their return promises to recapture the 1999 magic amid a post-Oppenheimer Fraser renaissance.
Radio Silence’s involvement adds intrigue—and some trepidation. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett revitalized Scream with self-aware gore and meta-humor, grossing $140 million on a $30 million budget, but their style—slasher satire—clashes with The Mummy‘s adventure-horror roots. “We’re honoring the originals while injecting fresh scares,” Gillett told Collider. No plot details yet, but whispers suggest a modern twist: Rick and Evelyn, now parents, chase an ancient curse tied to AI and climate change, blending old-school tombs with contemporary dread. The duo’s track record with Ready or Not (2019) bodes well for tension, but purists worry it might skew too comedic.
Complicating matters is Universal’s dual Mummy track. Cronin’s 2026 film, starring Anya Taylor-Joy in an original story, risks cannibalizing the franchise. “It’s a shared universe, not a reboot,” a studio source clarified, hinting at crossovers. As for Jonathan Carnahan, the comic relief played by John Hannah? “We’re talking,” Fraser teased. Hannah, 62, remains keen: “If Rick and Evelyn are back, so am I.”
This revival arrives amid Universal’s 2025 strategy to mine IPs, post-Oppenheimer‘s $975 million haul. Fraser’s star power could gross $500 million, but success hinges on recapturing the originals’ joy without alienating fans. “The Mummy was escapism—let’s keep it fun,” Weisz urged. As the sands shift, one thing’s clear: Rick and Evelyn’s return isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a resurrection, and Anfield’s waiting to see if it rises or mummifies.
