Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz Reunite After 24 Years

Universal Pictures / PR-ADN
Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, stars of the iconic adventure film "The Mummy," have come together again after 24 years. Their reunion has sparked nostalgia among fans and renewed interest in the beloved franchise.
TL;DR
- Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz reunite for new Mummy film.
- Directors Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett lead the ambitious reboot.
- Universal aims to revive blockbuster spirit after previous failures.
A Blockbuster Revival in the Making
It’s a twist few saw coming: Universal Pictures is gearing up for a new chapter in its iconic The Mummy franchise, this time reuniting fan-favorites Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. For more than two decades, enthusiasts have hoped to see these two actors share the screen once again—a pairing that now feels both nostalgic and strangely fresh. After all, their chemistry fueled the saga’s initial popularity before subsequent sequels struggled to recapture that magic, and the much-hyped 2017 reboot starring Tom Cruise fell flat with audiences.
Franchise Veterans Meet New Visionaries
Yet what truly sets this project apart isn’t just its cast. This ambitious return is entrusted to directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who have already proven themselves adept at breathing new life into established series. Their recent successes include revitalizing the Scream franchise with critically praised installments in 2022 and 2023. Their flair for blending suspense with dark humor was evident in the surprise hit Ready or Not, leaving many hopeful they can strike a similar balance of thrills and wit here.
Nostalgia Meets New Ambition
Several factors explain this decision:
- The remarkable post-franchise rise of both Fraser and Weisz—now each an Oscar winner—has only intensified interest in their cinematic reunion.
- The creative team is working from a screenplay by David Coggeshall, who garnered attention for his work on Orphan: First Kill.
- The studio’s clear intent to revive that old-school “summer blockbuster” energy which has eluded recent attempts at rebooting classic monster properties.
An Unprecedented Comeback?
It’s easy to sense heightened expectations swirling around this fourth installment. Not only does it mark Fraser and Weisz’s first on-screen partnership since “The Mummy Returns” (2001)—after Weisz was replaced in the third film—but it also represents perhaps the boldest project yet for Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett. Early production rumors suggest that Universal is granting them considerable creative freedom, hoping that their vision might rekindle widespread enthusiasm for large-scale adventure films.
As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on how these disparate elements converge—veteran stars, inventive directors, high stakes—for what could become one of Hollywood’s most memorable revivals.