Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are in talks to return to Universal’s The Mummy franchise in a new project being developed as a sequel rather than a full reboot. The deal, reported in industry outlets, pairs the former co-stars with Radio Silence — directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett — with production led by Sean Daniel alongside Project X Entertainment partners. David Coggeshall is credited as screenwriter; Universal has not publicly confirmed a release date. If finalized, the film would reconnect two lead players from the franchise that began with Stephen Sommers’s 1999 hit and earned more than $422.5 million worldwide.
- Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are in talks to star in a new Mummy sequel being developed by Universal and Radio Silence.
- Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett) are set to direct; they are known for Ready or Not (2019) and Scream (2022, 2023).
- Sean Daniel returns as producer; Project X Entertainment partners William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein will co-produce.
- David Coggeshall is credited as the screenplay writer; one source describes the project as a sequel that ignores the third film’s continuity.
- The original 1999 The Mummy, directed by Stephen Sommers, grossed over $422.5 million and spawned spin-offs including The Scorpion King.
- Universal provided no comment to reporters; casting beyond Fraser and Weisz has not been disclosed.
Background
The Mummy (1999) repositioned Universal’s classic-monster catalog as action-adventure blockbusters with a period setting, blending romance and supernatural horror in a 1920s Egypt backdrop. Stephen Sommers directed the film that turned Brendan Fraser into a leading man and reintroduced the studio’s monster IP to mainstream audiences. The movie’s commercial success—more than $422.5 million worldwide—led to sequels, a Dwayne Johnson spin-off (The Scorpion King), an animated series and a theme-park attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood.
After two films together, Rachel Weisz did not appear in the third entry of the series; Maria Bello stepped into that role while Luke Ford played the couple’s son. Over time the franchise lay dormant as Universal pursued other reboots of legacy properties. In recent years, studio strategies have shifted toward eventizing known IP — pairing established stars with contemporary genre filmmakers to court both nostalgia and new audiences.
Main Event
Industry reports indicate Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are in active negotiations to reprise their roles, with Radio Silence attached to direct. The duo, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, rose to mainstream genre prominence with 2019’s Ready or Not and have since been tapped to revitalize portions of the Scream series. Their production history with Universal includes Abigail (2024), and the filmmakers have an upcoming Ready or Not 2 titled Here I Come planned for Searchlight in April 2026.
Sean Daniel, who co-produced the original Sommers films with the late James Jacks, is returning as a producer. Project X Entertainment — producers William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein — will join the effort; Project X has collaborated with Radio Silence on titles such as Abigail and the recent Scream installments. The combination of legacy producers and a current horror-directing team signals a studio intent to bridge the franchise’s past and present.
Details about other returning cast members are not clear. One source described the project as a sequel that would disregard the events of the third film, suggesting a selective approach to continuity. David Coggeshall is attached as screenwriter; the studio has not released a formal production timeline, and Universal declined to comment to reporters.
Analysis & Implications
Pairing Fraser and Weisz with Radio Silence reflects a broader Hollywood pattern: leveraging recognizable star chemistry while entrusting revival projects to directors with proven genre box-office and fan engagement. Fraser’s career arc — from star of the original franchise to award-winning actor for The Whale (Best Actor Oscar, 2022) — increases the project’s cultural cachet and marketing potential. For Universal, a successful reunion could monetize nostalgia across theatrical release, streaming windows and theme-park tie-ins.
From a creative standpoint, treating the film as a direct sequel that ignores a later installment gives writers latitude to restore the original duo’s dynamic without reconciling less-successful entries. That approach reduces continuity baggage but raises expectations: the film must balance homage to Sommers’s tone with Radio Silence’s contemporary horror sensibilities. Commercially, the film’s prospects will hinge on global box office performance, critical response, and the extent to which it attracts both longtime fans and new audiences.
There are also scheduling and rights considerations. Radio Silence’s commitments (including Ready or Not 2) and Project X’s production slate mean the earliest realistic start date could be influenced by those timelines. Talent representation — Fraser is listed with CAA, Linden Entertainment and Felker Toczek; Weisz with CAA, Linde and Independent Talent Group — may shape contract terms including potential profit participation, merchandising, and sequel options.
| Title | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|
| The Mummy (1999) | $422.5 million |
The 1999 box office remains a key benchmark for any continuation; studios often measure revival viability against original grosses, adjusted for inflation and modern distribution models. A strong showing could justify further legacy sequels, spin-offs or expanded-universe projects tied to Universal’s classic monsters.
Reactions & Quotes
Industry sources and studio spokespeople have offered limited public commentary; coverage to date has largely relied on reporting from trade outlets.
“Universal had no comment.”
The Hollywood Reporter (trade report)
That absence of a studio statement leaves key elements—release date, full cast list and production schedule—unconfirmed publicly, and amplifies speculation among fans and trades.
“It’s being framed as a sequel rather than a reboot,”
Unattributed industry source (reported)
The reported characterization of the project as a sequel that disregards the third film suggests the creative team is prioritizing the 1999–2001 continuity and the Fraser–Weisz pairing.
Unconfirmed
- No official release date or production schedule has been announced by Universal.
- It is unconfirmed which additional original cast members, if any, will return beyond Fraser and Weisz.
- The extent to which the film will reference or ignore plot points from The Mummy Returns (2001) and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) has not been publicly detailed.
Bottom Line
The reported pairing of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz with Radio Silence and Project X represents a calculated attempt by Universal to revive a lucrative franchise while updating its creative voice. Fraser’s renewed profile after his Oscar-winning turn in The Whale and Radio Silence’s recent genre successes provide commercial and critical upside, but the project remains in early stages with key elements unresolved.
If the film moves forward as described, it will test whether nostalgia-driven revivals anchored by legacy stars can translate into modern box-office returns and cultural resonance. For audiences and industry watchers, the most important forthcoming signals will be an official studio announcement, a confirmed production timeline, and a full cast list detailing who returns to the franchise.
Sources
- The Hollywood Reporter (trade report)
- Box Office Mojo — The Mummy (1999) (box-office data)