Lead
Universal has scheduled a new installment in its The Mummy franchise for , announcing that Oscar winners Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz will return. The studio held that date as a potential event release and currently has no other wide releases slated for the same day. Radio Silence—directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett—are attached to helm, with a screenplay by David Coggeshall. Studio and producer names tied to the project indicate a push to reconnect the film to the franchise’s established lineage.
Key Takeaways
- Release date confirmed: Universal set the film for May 19, 2028, designating the slot for an event-level release.
- Lead cast reunited: Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are reported to be returning to the franchise’s next chapter.
- Directors and writer: Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett will direct from a script by David Coggeshall (credits include The Family Plan and Orphan: First Kill).
- Producing team: Sean Daniel returns as producer, with William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein producing via Project X Entertainment.
- Executive producing: Brendan Fraser, Jason F. Brown (Hivemind) and Denis Stewart are listed as executive producers.
- Studio oversight: Universal EVP Production Development Jay Polidoro and Jacqueline Garell, Director of Production Development, will oversee production.
- Franchise footprint: The Mummy series has generated approximately $1.8 billion globally to date.
- Radio Silence context: The directing team recently worked with Universal on the 2024 film Abigail and has another Searchlight sequel, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, slated to premiere at SXSW and open March 20.
Background
The Mummy franchise launched as a tentpole series in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with Rachel Weisz appearing in the 1999 The Mummy and 2001’s The Mummy Returns. Brendan Fraser headlined the first three entries: The Mummy (1999), The Mummy Returns (2001) and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008). The property has since seen reboots and studio reappraisals, including a 2017 Tom Cruise–led reboot.
Over the decades the brand has remained valuable to Universal, cumulatively earning roughly $1.8 billion worldwide. That commercial track record helps explain the studio’s interest in staging a major release window and in reuniting key original players. Producers with prior franchise ties, notably Sean Daniel who worked on the early films, are involved, signaling an intent to balance nostalgia with a modern production team.
Main Event
Universal announced the May 19, 2028 date and confirmed Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are returning to the series; the studio had kept that weekend open for an event-level picture. Details of each actor’s role in the new story were not disclosed. The screenplay is credited to David Coggeshall, whose previous work includes The Family Plan and Orphan: First Kill.
Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) will direct, re-establishing their relationship with Universal after directing the 2024 vampire film Abigail for the studio. Production oversight at Universal will come from EVP Production Development Jay Polidoro and Jacqueline Garell, the studio’s Director of Production Development.
On the producing side, Sean Daniel—who has long-standing ties to the franchise—is returning as a producer, joined by William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein through Project X Entertainment. Executive producers listed include Brendan Fraser along with Hivemind’s Jason F. Brown and Denis Stewart, indicating creative involvement from the returning star and established production partners.
Analysis & Implications
Reuniting Fraser and Weisz offers Universal a clear marketing advantage: both actors carry strong audience recognition tied to the franchise’s most commercially successful era. For a release targeted as an event film, familiar leads reduce first-release risk and can boost early awareness across demographics that remember the original releases and younger viewers exposed via streaming.
Hiring Radio Silence signals a tonal intention to blend genre sensibilities with franchise spectacle. The duo’s recent Universal collaboration on Abigail (2024) and their upcoming Searchlight sequel suggest studio confidence in their ability to manage horror-thriller material with broad release potential. That said, the new film must balance fan expectations for continuity with demands for contemporary storytelling to reach modern audiences.
Financially, a May tentpole slot positions the film for summer box office opportunity; the franchise’s $1.8 billion cumulative gross provides a high-water benchmark but also raises stakes. If Universal pursues a wide summer launch, the studio will likely commit significant marketing and a global distribution push, measuring pre-sales and early tracking closely to adjust plans.
Comparison & Data
| Title | Year | Principal Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mummy | 1999 | Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz | Original modern-era launch |
| The Mummy Returns | 2001 | Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz | Direct sequel with returning leads |
| The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor | 2008 | Brendan Fraser | Third film led by Fraser |
| The Mummy (reboot) | 2017 | Tom Cruise | Studio reboot, different continuity |
| Franchise total | — | — | Approximately $1.8 billion global gross |
The table summarizes franchise entries and the role of returning talent. While the overall $1.8 billion figure reflects legacy commercial performance, it is an aggregate; individual film grosses vary and will be key comparators once box office tracking begins for the 2028 release.
Reactions & Quotes
Responses to the announcement ranged from industry analysts noting the commercial logic of the reunion to fans expressing enthusiasm online. The reporting outlet that first confirmed talks in November framed the casting as the result of ongoing negotiations.
“Deadline reported in November that the pair were in talks to star in the Radio Silence-directed movie.”
Deadline (entertainment outlet)
“The studio had held the May 19, 2028 date for an event film, with no other wide entries booked that weekend.”
Universal (studio scheduling notice, as reported)
Unconfirmed
- Full plot details and character assignments for Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz have not been publicly released.
- Official production start date, filming locations and final budget figures remain undisclosed.
- Marketing strategy and whether the film will tie directly to original continuity versus a soft reboot have not been confirmed.
Bottom Line
Universal’s move to set The Mummy for and to reassemble Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz signals an attempt to mine franchise nostalgia while positioning the film as a major summer release. With Radio Silence directing and producers tied to the property’s history, the project combines legacy stewardship with contemporary genre filmmakers.
Key open questions—script shape, production timeline and marketing approach—will determine whether the film can convert nostalgia into box-office momentum. Expect studios and industry trackers to watch pre-release indicators closely; if early audience tracking is strong, Universal is likely to amplify promotion and global distribution plans.
Sources
- Deadline — entertainment news outlet reporting on casting and release date (media/press)