After nearly two decades of waiting, the beloved Mummy franchise is finally moving forward with a new chapter — and it appears the upcoming film is rewriting part of its history.
The directors behind the next installment have hinted that 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor may no longer be considered part of the story’s main timeline. Instead, the new movie will bring back the original stars who helped turn the adventure series into a global blockbuster.
Rachel Weisz’s Return Signals a Major Timeline Shift
Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett — the duo known collectively as Radio Silence — recently addressed the franchise’s continuity while discussing their upcoming sequel.
When asked whether the events of the 2008 film would remain canon, Bettinelli-Olpin offered a telling clue: “Rachel is in this one.”
His co-director quickly added that the answer should be obvious from that detail alone.
The comment strongly suggests the new movie will return to the storyline established in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, effectively bypassing the third installment.
Revisiting the Controversial 2008 Sequel
The film in question, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, took the franchise in a very different direction.
While it still featured adventurer Rick O’Connell, played by Brendan Fraser, the role of Evelyn Carnahan was recast. Original star Rachel Weisz did not return, and the character was instead portrayed by Maria Bello.
The movie also shifted the setting from Egypt to China and introduced a new supernatural threat centered on the Dragon Emperor.
Although the film performed reasonably well at the box office, it received mixed reactions from fans and critics, with many viewers missing the original cast dynamic.
The Original Duo Returns for the Long-Awaited Sequel
Now, the upcoming The Mummy 4 will reunite Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz as Rick and Evelyn O’Connell.
The film is currently scheduled to hit theaters on May 19, 2028, marking the franchise’s first major installment in nearly 20 years.
The project will be directed by Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, while the screenplay is being written by David Coggeshall.
Brendan Fraser Waited Two Decades for This Moment
Brendan Fraser has previously spoken about his complicated feelings toward the third movie and his long-standing hope to revisit the series properly.
According to the actor, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor came together under unique circumstances. He once explained that the film’s shift to China partly aligned with NBC’s broadcast of the Beijing Summer Olympics that same year.
Despite being proud of the experience and calling the film a solid standalone adventure, Fraser admitted that it wasn’t exactly the sequel he originally envisioned.
For him, the upcoming fourth installment represents the continuation he has been hoping to make for years.
What the New Film Could Mean for the Franchise
By bringing back the original cast and potentially ignoring the 2008 storyline, the new film appears to be following a trend seen across Hollywood — reviving classic franchises while returning to the elements that fans loved most.
The chemistry between Fraser and Weisz was a defining part of the first two movies, blending action, humor, and old-school adventure storytelling.
Reuniting the pair could help restore that original spirit while introducing the story to a new generation of audiences.
Final Words
Nearly twenty years after the last installment, The Mummy franchise is preparing for a major comeback — and it seems determined to return to its roots.
With Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz back in their iconic roles and a fresh creative team guiding the project, the upcoming sequel could finally deliver the continuation fans have been hoping for since the early 2000s.
If everything goes according to plan, audiences will once again join Rick and Evelyn O’Connell on a brand-new supernatural adventure when The Mummy 4 arrives in theaters in 2028.
