Isn't it terrible how Hollywood doesn't have any original ideas anymore, constantly reviving existing franchises with reboots, legacy sequels and prequels? Well, yes, but not when we're talking about '90s classic The Mummy, and the return of everybody's favourite on-screen couple, Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
It's been reported that the beloved duo are coming back for a new movie in the series – presumably reprising their roles as Rick O'Connell and Evelyn Carnahan as it'd be a bit weird otherwise.
The Hollywood Reporter added that it will likely be for a sequel which will ignore The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (which had Maria Bello take over from Weisz as Evelyn), a decision it's hard to imagine anybody disagreeing with.
But as exciting as the on-screen reunion of Fraser and Weisz is, especially when it rarely seemed like it was fuelled by anything other than fan hope, we wouldn't blame you for being sceptical that it will truly live up to those first two movies.
Yet there's another key factor in the announcement that should help you feel more confident that The Mummy sequel will be worth the wait.
While Stephen Sommers – who wrote and directed the first two movies – doesn't appear to be involved in the new movie, Universal has landed Radio Silence's Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett as the directors. Outside of the horror space, the duo might not be as well known, but they have previous experience in reviving a classic franchise.
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Radio Silence directed 2022's excellent Scream 'requel' which saw them manage to blend an obvious love for the series with a fresh take that meant it wasn't just a lazy retread. That movie saw them work with original stars Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox, retaining the spirit of the characters which will be so crucial for The Mummy. (Although if Rick suffers a Dewey-like demise, we're going to have words.)
Scream (2022) proved such a hit that Radio Silence repeated the trick with Scream VI, but they're not just one-trick ponies, or one-franchise ponies if you will. The duo have proved themselves in original horrors Ready or Not and last year's vampire treat Abigail. Both movies successfully delivered laughs and scares, a combination that is perfect for The Mummy, even if they'll have to rein in the blood this time around.
Unless there's a rewrite, it seems unlikely that Radio Silence's regular collaborator Guy Busick – who co-wrote both Scream movies, Ready or Not and Abigail – will be involved. But they are set to be joined by producers Project X Entertainment, so almost all of the gang who made those movies such a hit are back together behind-the-scenes.
The script for the new movie is coming from David Coggeshall, who has a patchier body of work, having written movies like The Family Plan and Netflix's The Deliverance. But he struck gold with Orphan: First Kill, a horror prequel that smartly subverted fan expectations, so we'll remain cautiously optimistic that he can deliver on that here.
There is, of course, a final factor that could really seal the deal in The Mummy sequel being the greatest legacy sequel ever. No other cast has been announced yet, but it just wouldn't feel like a true sequel if John Hannah doesn't come back as Evelyn's brother Jonathan. Fraser and Weisz's chemistry was a big factor in why those two movies worked so well, but it was Hannah's comic timing that turned them into a winning lead trio.
If we're being greedy, Oded Fehr, Arnold Vosloo and Patricia Velásquez all have to return as Ardeth Bay, Imhotep and Anck-su-namun respectively, but we can cross that bridge when it comes to it. There's already enough promising elements in the returns of Fraser and Weisz, combined with Radio Silence directing, that gives up hope that The Mummy can be revived in style.
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Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
