Is “The Mummy” having a moment? On the heels of the news that Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz will return for Radio Silence‘s new installment in the action-horror series in May 2028, now 2001’s sequel “The Mummy Returns” will return to theaters next month for its 25th anniversary. That’s on top of Lee Cronin‘s “The Mummy“ (a new, unconnected take on the Universal Horror IP) hitting theaters on April 17, but don’t expect that one to do the business of the Fraser-led franchise.
Paired together, Stephen Sommers‘ follow-up to his 1999 smash hit are the most commercially successful “Mummy” movies ever made (the less said about 2008’s “Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor,” the better; the same goes for Tom Cruise‘s disastrous 2017 blockbuster). Set 10 years after the first adventure, “The Mummy Returns” sees Fraser’s Rick Marshall and Weisz’s Evelyn return to Egypt to face off against Arnold Vosloo‘s Imhotep again, only this time another ancient undead adversary is in the mix: Dwayne Johnson‘s Scorpion King. John Hannah, Patricia Velasquez, Oded Fehr return to reprise their roles from the 1999 film, with Freddie Boath co-starring as Rick and Evelyn’s son Alex.
Here’s an official synopsis for “The Mummy Returns,” courtesy of Universal:
Set 10 years after the events of the first film, The Mummy Returns picks up in 1933 with the swashbuckling heroes now married and living in London. Parents to eight-year-old Alex (Freddie Boath), the couple brings the boy along to their Egyptian expeditions, where they inadvertently uncover a rare artifact, the Bracelet of Anubis. The piece once belonged to a fearsome warrior known as the Scorpion King (Dwayne Johnson in his feature film debut) and can be used to command his army of jackal-like fighters.
Back in London, trouble begins after the bracelet locks onto Alex’s wrist, just as a cult planning to resurrect the powerful mummy Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), kidnaps Evelyn. Suddenly, father and son are forced to undertake a dangerous rescue mission alongside Evelyn’s spoiled brother (John Hannah), one that pits them against Meela Nais (Patricia Velasquez). The physical reincarnation of Imhotep’s ancient lover, she hopes Imhotep will defeat the Scorpion King in battle, thereby conquering the world.
Dodging all manner of unimaginable threats—death-defying chases, merciless hand-to-hand combat, even ritual sacrifice—the O’Connell family bravely fights to save the globe, and one another, from certain destruction.
“The Mummy Returns” hits theaters for its 25th anniversary on March 27. Watch the trailer for the film’s re-release below.
