Why might the new Mummy sequel be about to ignore one film in the franchise?

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The popular Mummy movies from Universal Pictures might be coming back! Sources say Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, the stars of the original films from the early 2000s, are discussing a return. The new movie would be directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who previously worked on “Ready or Not” and “Scream.”

As a huge fan of the original, I was thrilled to read in The Hollywood Reporter that Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are reportedly coming back for a new Mummy project! It sounds like we’ll be seeing their characters, Rick O’Connell and Evelyn Carnahan, team up again – almost thirty years after they first stumbled upon Imhotep way back in the 1999 film. It’s exciting to think about seeing that dynamic back on screen!

The original producers are returning for the new film, but there’s a rumor going around that it won’t follow the storyline of the 2008 movie, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

Why do some fans want to pretend the third Mummy movie never happened? To get to the bottom of this debate, let’s quickly recap how the series started.

What happened in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns?

Stephen Sommers’ 1999 film, The Mummy, brought a classic sense of adventure to Universal’s monster movies, blending the excitement of Indiana Jones with supernatural elements. The story, set in 1920s Egypt, follows Rick O’Connell, a daring adventurer, and Evelyn Carnahan, a bookish librarian, along with her clumsy brother Jonathan. They accidentally awaken the cursed priest Imhotep while exploring the lost city of Hamunaptra, unleashing plagues, swarms of beetles, terrifying sandstorms, and a lot of humor along the way.

The movie was a huge international success, earning over $422 million and launching Brendan Fraser to stardom. This led to a 2001 sequel, The Mummy Returns, which was even more action-packed and set ten years later. Now married with an eight-year-old son, Alex, Rick and Evie face Imhotep again – this time brought back to life by a cult who want to control the Scorpion King (played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in his first movie role).

The second movie featured more computer-generated effects, but it still kept the fun, adventurous, and romantic feel of the original. Both The Mummy and The Mummy Returns are now fondly remembered as classic blockbusters from the early 2000s.

What happened in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor?

Released in 2008, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, directed by Rob Cohen, was a significant change from previous films in the series.

Trading the deserts of Egypt for the landscapes of China, the movie introduces Jet Li as the Dragon Emperor, a powerful and ancient warrior trapped as a terracotta statue. After Rick and Evie’s son, Alex, now grown up, accidentally brings him back to life, the family must team up again to prevent the Emperor and his army from taking over the world.

Why might the new Mummy sequel ignore Tomb of the Dragon Emperor?

The 2008 movie significantly changed the series, moving the setting from Egypt to China and replacing mummies with terracotta warriors. It also shifted from a fun, romantic style to a more standard adventure story.

The film faced another setback when Rachel Weisz decided not to reprise her role as Evelyn. Sources say she had concerns about the script and the extensive filming location. Maria Bello replaced her, which unfortunately altered the dynamic that fans enjoyed between Weisz and Brendan Fraser.

Although the movie did well in theaters, most people consider it the least successful of the three films, receiving lower ratings and less enthusiasm from fans.

If filmmakers chose to disregard certain recent developments, the new Mummy movie could simplify the plot, recapture the feel and mythology of the first two films, and bring back the original stars without feeling forced. This would give the Mummy series a real opportunity to regain its former appeal.

With recent successful sequels like Top Gun: Maverick and Ghostbusters: Afterlife proving popular, it’s clear audiences appreciate continuations that lovingly revisit what made the originals great. A new Mummy movie that builds on the first two films – and subtly ignores the less successful third – would fit right in with this trend.

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2025-11-06 13:05