Some reunions take a quarter century. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are filming The Mummy 4 right now in the UK, and the first set photos have fans of Universal’s adventure franchise losing their minds. After 25 years apart on screen, Rick and Evelyn O’Connell are back.
Fraser revealed to Canal+ that cameras started rolling on September 7, saying that returning feels like reuniting with an old friend. The photos tell the story: Weisz, 56, spotted outside the British Museum in a mustard-yellow polka-dot skirt, cropped brown jacket, and wide-brimmed hat, clutching a vintage leather briefcase and an old-fashioned transistor radio. Fraser, 57, was photographed days later at a former military base in Suffolk, in a black leather coat, filming what looks like a record-speed trials sequence with a silver-and-red rocket car.
This is not a reboot. This is a homecoming.
The gang’s all here
The legacy reunion goes far beyond the two leads. John Hannah is back as Jonathan Carnahan, Evelyn’s mischievous brother. Oded Fehr returns as Ardeth Bay, the Medjai warrior. Kevin J. O’Connor reprises Beni Gabor from the original film. New additions include Numan Acar and Michael Johnson.
That casting tells you exactly what kind of movie this is. Universal is not distancing itself from the franchise’s past; it is embracing it. The original 1999 film, released 27 years ago, turned Fraser and Weisz into adventure-movie royalty. The Mummy Returns followed in 2001. Weisz sat out the 2008 third chapter, with Maria Bello stepping in, and fans never quite forgave the swap. Now the original chemistry is back where it belongs.
The period details in the set photos offer clues about the timeline. The original was set in 1926, the third film jumped to 1947, and the costumes here suggest the early-to-mid 1950s. Rick and Evelyn, older, wiser, and presumably still bickering beautifully. There is something deeply satisfying about watching these characters age in real time alongside the actors who play them.
Radio Silence takes the helm
Behind the camera, Universal made an inspired choice. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the Radio Silence duo behind the recent Scream films and Ready or Not, are directing from a script by David Coggeshall. Producer Sean Daniel, who has worked on every installment since 1999, returns, with Fraser himself serving as executive producer.
Radio Silence understands exactly what this franchise needs. Their Scream work proved they can honor beloved legacy characters while delivering genuine scares and big crowd-pleasing moments. The Mummy films were always horror-adjacent: cursed priests, flesh-eating scarabs, supernatural dread wrapped in matinee adventure. A directing team fluent in both horror and fun is the perfect fit.
The franchise has grossed $1.8 billion worldwide, and Universal clearly wants this chapter to feel like an event. Moving the release date up from May 19, 2028, to October 15, 2027, is a statement of confidence. Studios do not move blockbusters forward seven months unless they like what they are seeing.
Why this reunion matters
Fraser’s career renaissance has been one of Hollywood’s best stories. From his Oscar win to his carefully chosen recent roles, he has rebuilt himself as one of the industry’s most beloved figures. Returning to Rick O’Connell, the role that made him a star, is not a step backward. It is a victory lap.
And Weisz never really left the cultural conversation, but her return as Evelyn rights a 17-year wrong. The Bello substitution in 2008 remains one of the franchise’s sore spots. Seeing Weisz back in period costume, briefcase in hand, outside the British Museum, feels like the timeline correcting itself.
There is a broader trend here too. Hollywood’s legacy sequels work when they respect what came before and bring back the people who made it special. The 24 Jump Street team reuniting Tatum and Hill for December 2027 follows the same playbook. Audiences do not just want the IP; they want the people.
What we still don’t know
Plot details remain tightly under wraps. Universal has not confirmed a final title, and beyond the inevitable tombs, curses, and marital banter, nobody outside the production knows what supernatural threat Rick and Evelyn will face. Given the 1950s setting, the Cold War era offers rich territory for an adventure story.
What we do know is enough. The cameras are rolling. The cast is back. The directors are right. And October 15, 2027, cannot come soon enough.
The verdict
The Mummy 4 is shaping up to be the legacy sequel done right: original stars, original producer, horror-savvy directors, and a studio confident enough to move the date up. Some franchises chase nostalgia. This one is earning it, one set photo at a time.
For more on Hollywood’s franchise renaissance, check out our coverage of Johnny Depp’s haunted Christmas tale Ebenezer and the holiday return of the Angry Birds flock. The old gangs are all getting back together, and honestly, we love to see it.
