The newest film in the Mummy franchise just got an immense update. The Hollywood Reporter writes that original star John Hannah will be returning for the fourth film in the franchise, rejoining co-stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz for a true family reunion.
Hannah starred in the first two films as Jonathan Carnahan, the brother of Weisz’s librarian Evy who always seemed to be just a bit down on his luck. A fan-favorite character beloved by many, he was last seen in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, meaning he’ll be the only other star besides Fraser to have featured in every film of the franchise.
The as-yet-untitled sequel is set to be directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, better known as Radio Silence. No details on the film’s plot are available yet, but original producer Sean Daniel is back to produce, alongside William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein, with David Coggeshall writing the screenplaying. It’s still up in the air whether any other original cast members will return for the new film — namely Oded Fehr, who played Medjai warrior Ardeth Bay.
According to sources, the new film is not a reboot, but rather a direct sequel to 2001’s The Mummy Returns, which would completely ignore the events of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which not only pulled the franchise away from Ancient Egypt but also replaced Weisz with Maria Bello, a decision which, to quote The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “has made a lot of people angry, and been widely regarded as a bad move.”
Hannah’s casting is just the latest in a long line of exciting announcements about the upcoming film and its position within the franchise. Universal is also rereleasing The Mummy Returns in theaters this weekend to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary, so the casting announcement couldn’t have come at a better time.
The new Mummy film hits theaters on May 19, 2028. Stay tuned to FANGORIA for more updates.
