Rick O’Connell has been inspiring would-be archaeologists for 25 years, and the adventure-loving hero might just be returning for another scarab-stomping escapade.
For millions of fans, the 1999 action-adventure film, The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, isn’t just a classic—it’s a foundational piece of their cinematic upbringing. Now, after years of silence as ominous as the sands of Hamunaptra, rumors have surfaced suggesting that the cinematic curse has been lifted and The Mummy 4 is awakening.
Fraser’s Dream: “The One I Wanted to Make”
While studio confirmation remains elusive, last week, a report from Variety seemingly read the ominous words from the Scroll of Thoth, announcing the potential return of the series, possibly under the direction of Scream rebooters Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett). The studio has yet to officially confirm the film.
However, in a recent interview with the Associated Press, Fraser confirmed his enthusiasm goes beyond mere interest—it’s about fulfilling a long-held vision. The actor revealed he has been waiting two decades to make the Mummy movie he always dreamed of making.
“The one I wanted to make was never made,” Fraser said, referencing the franchise which continued with The Mummy Returns (2001) and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008). He added, “I’ve been waiting 20 years for this call… Now? It’s time to give the fans what they want.”
Separately, speaking to Indiewire, Fraser gave even more reason to be “hopeful,” even while confirming his lips are, for now, officially sealed.
“What you saw in Variety and the trades as wrote is a spec piece, but if my lips weren’t sealed, I would confirm everything that you already know,” Fraser said. “However, I’m hopeful. I know that there are a lot of fans who would love to see this happen.”
Fraser’s promise of delivering the film he envisioned, combined with the reports of Rachel Weisz also in talks to return, suggests the new installment will be a true legacy sequel, likely disregarding the events of the third film.
The Legacy of Rick O’Connell
The enduring love for the Mummy series has had a profound, generational effect on audiences, something Fraser knows well. This enthusiasm is particularly poignant given he suffered numerous stunt-related injuries and nearly died making the original films.
When interviewer Mike Ryan likened him to a whole generation’s “Indiana Jones,” Fraser noted that generation now has children of their own, passing down their beloved films.
“They’re introducing them to what they watched when they were kids,” Fraser observes. “I want to say that I know how many people, how meaningful it is.”
The fandom’s impact goes far beyond nostalgic viewing. Fraser frequently hears from young women (and men) whose career path was influenced by the movies. “I’m an archeologist now, because I saw this movie now as a kid and made me say that’s what I wanted to do,” he recounts them saying.
Tattoos and Fanaticism
The level of devotion Fraser encounters at fan conventions is proof of the film’s lasting power.
“Any fan convention I go to, the lines surround the block, and they’re all carrying Mummy merch or pictures or whatever. They dress up like the characters,” he continues. “They’re fans to the point of sometimes being fanatical.”
The actor shares one of his most memorable encounters, which perfectly encapsulates the devotion of his fanbase: “Someone will pull a shirt aside and show an Egyptian tattoo that was mocked up from something that they saw from the movie. The weirdest one was some guy pulled his pant leg up, and my face was on his calf. I was like, ‘Ah.’”
“Ah,” indeed. While the studio waits to officially confirm the film’s return, the promise of the Mummy movie Brendan Fraser has been waiting two decades to make suggests that if The Mummy 4 is ready to lurch into theaters, the world is more than ready for Rick O’Connell’s true return.
