Brendan Fraser was having lunch at Chateau Marmont in September when Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett approached his table. The Ready or Not directors pitched their Mummy movie vision for 15 minutes, and Fraser reportedly said: “If Rachel’s in, I’m in.”
The $90 Million Gambit
Universal Pictures is in serious talks with Fraser, Weisz, and the filmmaking duo Radio Silence for a new Mummy entry that ignores Tom Cruise’s 2017 reboot disaster. The budget is reportedly set at $90 million – modest compared to Cruise’s $125 million flop that lost Universal an estimated $95 million.
Fraser’s The Mummy (1999) earned $416 million worldwide on an $80 million budget, with The Mummy Returns (2001) grossing $443 million. Even the critically panned Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) made $403 million. The franchise generated over $1.2 billion before Cruise’s Dark Universe killed it.
Fraser’s career renaissance following his Oscar win for The Whale (2022) makes him a bankable star again. His recent films Killers of the Flower Moon and The Line proved his dramatic range, but fans have been begging for his return to action-adventure since his comeback began.
Rachel’s Return
Rachel Weisz’s involvement is the crucial piece. She declined Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, replaced by Maria Bello in what fans consider the franchise’s biggest mistake. Weisz told Entertainment Weekly she “moved on from that character,” but Radio Silence’s script reportedly changed her mind.
The Mummy movie concept brings back Rick and Evelyn O’Connell as grandparents whose family discovers a new curse. Their son Alex (Luke Ford from the 2008 film won’t return) has children who unwittingly resurrect a different ancient evil. Fraser and Weisz would essentially pass the torch while remaining central to the story.
Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett made their name with smart horror that respects franchise history while updating for modern audiences. Ready or Not (2019) earned $57 million on a $6 million budget. Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023) grossed $140 million and $169 million respectively, proving they understand legacy sequels.
February 2026 Start
If deals close, production would begin February 2026 in Morocco and England, with a planned summer 2027 release. Universal’s strategy appears to be treating this as a legacy sequel similar to Top Gun: Maverick – nostalgia-driven but not dependent on constant references to past films.
The Mummy movie would compete in a crowded 2027 marketplace against Avatar 4, Star Wars: New Jedi Order, and Mission: Impossible 8. But the action-adventure genre has been relatively quiet since Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny underperformed in 2023.
Fraser’s salary demands have increased significantly post-Oscar. Industry insiders estimate he’s asking $15-20 million, with Weisz commanding $8-10 million. Combined with Radio Silence’s fees and the $90 million budget, Universal needs $300 million worldwide to profit.
The franchise’s international appeal could make that achievable. China, where the O’Connells battled mummies in 2008, has become a crucial market. Middle Eastern and European audiences have historically supported the franchise more than domestic viewers.
Whether this Mummy revival materializes depends on final negotiations, but the pieces are falling into place. Fraser and Weisz’s chemistry defined the original films. Radio Silence’s horror expertise could bring genuine scares the franchise has lacked. And Universal desperately needs a successful monster franchise after Dark Universe’s collapse.
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