Exciting news for fans of The Mummy franchise! Just when you thought the adventure was over, it has been announced that a new sequel featuring the beloved stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz is officially in the works, complete with a confirmed release date. This is a thrilling development for those who have cherished the classic 1999 film.
Mark your calendars for May 19, 2028! That’s the day Universal Pictures has set for this upcoming installment, which currently remains untitled. While it feels like quite a wait, at least we can look forward to it with anticipation!
The project will be helmed by directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who are well-known for their work with the production company Radio Silence. Fans may recognize their directing style from the recent Scream sequels, as well as the inventive horror-comedy Ready or Not and its sequel, which is due out soon. They also crafted one of the standout segments from the original V/H/S anthology film, titled "10/31/98."
In terms of writing, David Coggeshall, who previously penned Orphan: First Kill, is on board to develop the script for this exciting new chapter in The Mummy saga. What’s particularly fascinating is that the storyline is expected to reflect a vision that Fraser himself has long dreamed of bringing to life. He expressed his enthusiasm during an interview with The Associated Press, stating, "The one I wanted to make is forthcoming. And I've been waiting 20 years for this call. Sometimes it was loud, sometimes it was a faint telegraph. Now? It's time to give the fans what they want."
Fraser also shared some insight into what could have been, reminiscing about the third film, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, saying, "The one I wanted to make was never made. The third one was a model of… how can I say this to the AP reporter? NBC had the rights to broadcast the Olympics that year, so they put two together and we went to China."
After the release of the original Mummy in 1999, the first sequel, The Mummy Returns, came out in 2001, followed by the third film in 2008. Unfortunately, Weisz did not reprise her role in that installment, making way for Maria Bello instead. However, the return of both Weisz and Fraser is highly anticipated, as fans hope they will reignite the charm and spirit that made the original films so special—just in time for 2028!
For more updates, you can follow Lex Briscuso, a film and television critic and freelance entertainment writer for IGN, on Twitter @nikonamerica.
