The Return of Rick and Evy: Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in Talks for New Mummy Film

The sands of time appear to be shifting back for the beloved Mummy franchise, as original stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are reportedly in talks to reunite for a brand-new installment from Universal Pictures. This potential reunion would see Fraser return as the swashbuckling adventurer Rick O’Connell after a 17-year absence, and Weisz return as the quick-witted librarian Evelyn “Evy” Carnahan after a 24-year hiatus from the series. The project is set to be helmed by the acclaimed horror-comedy directing team Radio Silence, known for revitalizing the Scream franchise. This development signals a clear pivot back to the adventure-meets-horror-comedy tone that made the 1999 original and its sequel, The Mummy Returns, massive global hits, collectively helping the franchise earn over $1 billion worldwide.

The Original Duo: A Long-Awaited Reunion

The potential return of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz marks a significant victory for fans who have long clamored for the original cast to anchor a new Mummy adventure.

Fraser, who played the dashing American treasure hunter Rick O’Connell, last appeared in the franchise in 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Weisz, whose portrayal of the brilliant but clumsy librarian Evelyn Carnahan was central to the first two films, has not been involved since 2001’s The Mummy Returns. This long absence by both actors has only heightened the excitement around their possible collaboration, particularly following Fraser’s high-profile career resurgence after his Oscar-winning turn in The Whale. The original on-screen chemistry between Fraser and Weisz was a cornerstone of the franchise’s success, blending witty banter, romantic tension, and classic adventure appeal.

New Creative Blood: The Radio Silence Factor

Universal is pairing the returning star power with a fresh, genre-blending creative team, signaling a clear intention to capture the original films’ unique horror-comedy spirit.

The new Mummy movie will be directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking duo operating under the name Radio Silence. This team is best known for the successful 2019 horror-comedy Ready or Not and, more notably, for breathing new life into the Scream franchise by directing its successful sixth and seventh installments. Their filmography suggests that the new Mummy will lean into the blood-splattered, action-packed horror-comedy that defined the original, a stark contrast to the serious action tone of Universal’s last attempt at the property. The screenplay for the project was written by David Coggeshall, known for the 2022 film Prey.

Lessons Learned: Moving Past the Dark Universe

This new project represents a strong course correction for Universal, which previously attempted and failed to reboot its classic monster franchises with a different tone and star.

In 2017, Universal released a separate take on the monster mythos with The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise. That film was intended to launch a sprawling cinematic universe branded as the Dark Universe, focused on the studio’s catalog of classic monsters. However, the film was a critical and commercial failure, prompting Universal to scrap the ambitious, interconnected project entirely. By pivoting back to the original stars, the light-hearted adventure tone, and the established narrative framework of the 1999 version, Universal is acknowledging that the Fraser-Weisz dynamic and tone are the key ingredients that made the franchise a global success.

The Unanswered Question: Continuation or Clean Slate?

While the stars are in talks to return, a major piece of the puzzle remains unclear: whether the new movie will serve as a direct sequel or a softer reboot that honors the original continuity.

It is currently unknown whether the script will pick up the story where the previous films left off—which would involve their adult son Alex, introduced in Tomb of the Dragon Emperor—or if the film will essentially wipe the slate clean, perhaps placing Rick and Evy in a new context decades later. Regardless of the timeline, the return of Fraser and Weisz signals a commitment to the original characters and their relationship, which captivated audiences over two decades ago. Fraser has enjoyed a major career resurgence, and Weisz has remained a celebrated figure, most recently appearing in Marvel’s Black Widow in 2021, ensuring that the star power is there to reignite the franchise.