A new installment for The Mummy is currently in development, and the creative team behind the project has already revealed major changes to the franchise history. According to recent reports the upcoming project will skip over the events from the 2008 sequel, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, and instead continue from the 2001 The Mummy Returns.
The decision is coming from a team known as Radio Silence, who is made up of Matt Bettieniili Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The duo has confirmed that the third film in the original trilogy will not be treated as canon while the fourth will be a new installment for the franchise. With a diverse tone and cast, the first two movies became popular with audiences, this creative reset effectively positions the new projects as a legacy sequel. Showing a reconnection to the storyline from earlier films in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.
The biggest speculation going around is the return for Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weis, who will reprise their roles as adventurers Rick and Evelyn O’Connell. The screenplay is being written by David Coggeshall, with Universal Pictures overseeing all production and distribution for the film. This return for the cast will mark the first time they appear on camera together again.
The original Mummy film blended adventure, and supernatural horror tied to Egyptian mythology. The upcoming movie is expected to return to this type of formula for an action thriller. By revisiting the spirits from the original films, the project aims to restore the sense of adventure between the main characters that fans associate with the series.
For the industry, the new Mummy project is reflecting the value of nostalgic franchises. With Fraesr’s recent career resurrection and rebranded interest in original stories. There is an opportunity to revive familiar properties while appealing to both new and longtime fans. If successful, the film could start a new wave to reshape the franchise, rather than a reboot project.
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