After years of rumors and false starts, Universal Pictures appears ready to resurrect one of its most beloved franchises. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are reportedly in negotiations to reprise their roles in a new entry in “The Mummy” series, with Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett of Radio Silence set to direct.
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The project would mark a full-circle revival for the adventure-horror franchise, which first launched in 1999 under the direction of Stephen Sommers and helped turn Fraser and Weisz into global stars. While details remain tightly under wraps, the film is said to be a continuation of the original storyline—potentially bypassing 2008’s “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”—and aiming to recapture the mix of romance, myth, and pulp spectacle that defined the first two entries.
For Fraser, whose Oscar-winning turn in “The Whale” reignited his career, the return feels almost karmic. Weisz, who has focused mainly on prestige fare in recent years, would also be making a rare return to blockbuster territory. Both actors have remained fan favorites, and the notion of seeing them together again under Universal’s banner has already stirred intense nostalgia online.
Behind the camera, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett bring serious genre credentials. As part of the Radio Silence filmmaking collective, the duo is best known for revitalizing the “Scream” franchise with 2022’s “Scream” and “Scream VI,” as well as their breakout horror hit “Ready or Not.” Their work is marked by fast-paced energy, sly humor, and a reverence for the horror genre’s mechanics—all of which make them a fitting choice to inject new life into “The Mummy” while honoring its swashbuckling roots.
The success of “The Whale” and Weisz’s acclaimed Amazon series “Dead Ringers” has underscored how far the two stars have evolved since the late ’90s heyday of Universal’s adventure revival. Now, with the studio’s focus shifting toward legacy properties with built-in emotional hooks, “The Mummy” could become the next major cornerstone in the wave of nostalgic reimaginings.
While Universal has not officially commented, the early momentum suggests that “The Mummy” may finally rise again—an ancient property reborn for an audience eager to revisit its most enduring myth.
Edward Davis is a senior film journalist and longtime contributor to The Playlist. Davis covers the full breadth of cinema — from major studio releases to independent and international film.
