Brendan Fraser says he’s “been waiting 20 years” for a call about The Mummy 4

Reports in early November suggested Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz were negotiating to reunite for a fourth installment of The Mummy, and fans responded with widespread excitement. While no official deal has been signed, Fraser’s eagerness for a new entry feels palpable, and many expect a formal announcement soon — possibly timed with his appearance at a Mummy fan convention in Minnesota.

Before the convention, Fraser spoke with the Associated Press about the prospective sequel and reflected on the franchise’s history. He said that the picture he’d originally envisioned never materialized, and he traced part of that outcome to studio timing and outside factors: when NBC controlled the 2008 Olympics broadcast, Universal seized an opportunity to pair promotional momentum with a production that ultimately became The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

The new project reportedly intends to sidestep the third film, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Although that entry fell short of the box-office heights of its predecessors, it still grossed more than $400 million worldwide. That chapter took the series in a lighter, more self-aware direction: Brendan Fraser returned as Rick O’Connell while Maria Bello stepped into the role previously held by Rachel Weisz. The story followed their grown son, Alex, as he inadvertently resurrected an ancient Chinese emperor — setting off a chain of events that had the O’Connells teaming with the sorceress Zi Yuan and her daughter to halt the rising threat.

One frequent critique of Tomb of the Dragon Emperor was that key stars rarely shared the screen. Michelle Yeoh’s enchanted antagonist handled much of the mystical heft while Fraser’s Rick provided the franchise’s customary physical comedy and action. Still, both performers later enjoyed career resurgences — Fraser with The Whale and Yeoh with Everything Everywhere All at Once — and they publicly congratulated one another during that awards-season moment.

Fraser told the AP he’s finally getting the chance to pursue the idea he’s long wanted. “The one I wanted to make is forthcoming,” he said, adding that he’s waited two decades for this opportunity and believes it’s time to deliver what longtime fans have been hoping for.

Sources: Polygon, Associated Press, Box Office Mojo

Source: Polygon