After more than two decades of waiting, one of Hollywood’s most beloved adventure duos is finally back together. Production on The Mummy 4 is officially underway, and the first behind-the-scenes photos of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz have finally offered fans an exciting first look at the iconic duo reuniting for the highly anticipated sequel.
Fraser is returning as the fearless adventurer Rick O’Connell, while Weisz is back as Egyptologist Evelyn O’Connell. Their return marks the first time the pair have appeared together in these roles since 2001’s The Mummy Returns, making the new movie one of the most anticipated legacy sequels currently in development.
The Mummy 4 First Look Is Finally Here, and Fans Are Ready for the Epic Reunion
The first-look images come from the film’s ongoing production in England rather than from an official promotional campaign. Recent photos from the Suffolk set capture Brendan Fraser in a striking dark leather costume and helmet, moments before he climbed into the eye-catching silver-and-red rocket-powered car.
The unusual vehicle has immediately sparked speculation about the movie’s setting and story, although Universal has not confirmed precisely what sequence is being filmed. Reports have described the material as resembling a high-speed trial or racing sequence, suggesting that the new movie could retain the large-scale physical adventure and eccentric action that defined Fraser’s original Mummy films.
Rachel Weisz has also been photographed on location in London wearing an elaborate vintage-style costume. Her outfit includes a brown jacket, rust-colored blouse, mustard-yellow patterned skirt, gloves and a wide-brimmed hat, creating a distinctly old-fashioned expedition look that immediately recalls the franchise’s period-adventure identity.
The images are particularly significant because Weisz did not return for 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Maria Bello played Evelyn in that film, meaning Weisz’s appearance in the new production represents her first return to the character in roughly a quarter of a century.
Brendan Fraser Is Back as Rick O’Connell
For many fans, the most important element of The Mummy 4 is Brendan Fraser’s return. Brendan Fraser cemented his place as Rick O’Connell in the 1999 adventure hit, which reinvented Universal’s classic monster legacy with an exhilarating mix of action, humor, romance, supernatural thrills, and far-reaching adventures across exotic locations.
The actor later returned to the role, appearing in The Mummy Returns (2001) and reprising the character once again in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008). His return to the character now comes after a long period in which fans repeatedly wondered whether the original version of the franchise would ever be revived.
Fraser has previously spoken positively about the possibility of returning to Rick O’Connell, provided a new story could capture the qualities that made the original movies work. He has also emphasized the importance of fun and adventure, distinguishing the tone of his Mummy movies from the more horror-focused approach taken by Universal’s 2017 reboot starring Tom Cruise.
The new set photographs suggest that Fraser is not simply making a cameo appearance. His presence in action-oriented scenes indicates that Rick remains central to the story, while his updated costume and the mysterious rocket car hint that the filmmakers may be placing the character in a very different adventure from the ancient-Egypt setting audiences remember.
Rachel Weisz Returns as Evelyn O’Connell
Rachel Weisz’s return may be even more significant because Evelyn was absent from the third movie. In the original 1999 film, she began as an intelligent but somewhat accident-prone Egyptologist whose academic knowledge became essential to Rick’s survival, while The Mummy Returns developed the relationship between Evelyn and Rick into one of the franchise’s emotional foundations.
The newly released production photos suggest that Evelyn will once again play a hands-on role in the unfolding adventure, returning as a central figure in the story rather than merely appearing as a familiar face from the franchise’s past. Her period costume, briefcase and location around London have fueled plenty of fan theories, although the production has yet to reveal exactly what Evelyn is doing in the story.
That mystery is important because the filmmakers have deliberately kept the plot of The Mummy 4 secret. While the first images establish that Fraser and Weisz are genuinely filming together again, they do not yet reveal the central supernatural threat, the identity of the main villain or how the new adventure connects to the earlier films.
The Mummy 4 Cast and Returning Characters
Fraser and Weisz are not the only familiar faces expected to return. John Hannah is back as Jonathan Carnahan, Evelyn’s mischievous brother, while Oded Fehr is returning as Ardeth Bay, the Medjai warrior who became one of the franchise’s most popular supporting characters.
Kevin J. O’Connor is also listed as returning as Beni Gabor, the memorable and treacherous character from the 1999 movie. Because Beni seemingly met his end in the original film, his reported involvement naturally raises questions about whether the new story will use flashbacks, supernatural elements or another explanation for his appearance.
The cast also includes newer additions such as Michael Johnston and Numan Acar, although their roles have not been fully disclosed. That combination of recognizable franchise veterans and new performers suggests that the studio is attempting to preserve the identity of the original series while giving the story room to introduce fresh characters.
Who Is Directing The Mummy 4?
The fourth movie is being directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking team known collectively as Radio Silence. Their previous work includes Ready or Not, Scream and Scream VI, giving them experience with both horror and high-energy genre entertainment.
That combination could be particularly useful for a new Mummy movie. The original films were never purely horror movies; they relied on scares, but balanced them with humor, romance, spectacular action and a sense of old-fashioned cinematic adventure.
The directors have indicated that the new installment will stay connected to the spirit of the original while taking some risks of its own. They have described the project as a return to form, while also suggesting that audiences should not expect a simple copy of the earlier films.
David Coggeshall Is Writing the Screenplay
The screenplay was penned by David Coggeshall, whose earlier writing credits include Orphan: First Kill and The Family Plan. While major story details remain secret, Brendan Fraser has spoken enthusiastically about the script, describing the project as the kind of Mummy movie he had wanted to make.
That comment is significant because the new film is arriving after years of uncertainty surrounding the franchise. Rather than simply continuing the series because of nostalgia, the production appears to be built around the idea that there is still a worthwhile Rick and Evelyn adventure to tell.
The filmmakers have also emphasized that they have had strong conversations with Fraser and Weisz about the characters and the franchise. That collaborative approach could help the sequel feel more like a continuation of the original movies rather than a disconnected remake.
What Will The Mummy 4 Story Be About?
This is where the biggest questions remain. Universal has not released a detailed official plot synopsis, so claims about the movie’s exact storyline should currently be treated as speculation.
The production photographs provide some intriguing clues, however. Fraser’s apparent involvement in a high-speed vehicle sequence and Weisz’s vintage expedition costume suggest that the new film will once again blend historical settings with large-scale adventure, but the photographs alone cannot establish the complete timeline or plot.
There has also been speculation that the new movie could effectively move forward from The Mummy Returns while minimizing or reworking the events of Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Some reports have described the project as a direct follow-up to the 2001 film, but that has not been formally explained by Universal, so fans should wait for an official synopsis before treating that theory as confirmed.
Why The Return of Fraser and Weisz Matters
The appeal of The Mummy 4 goes beyond simply bringing back two recognizable actors. Fraser and Weisz had a distinctive chemistry that helped make the first two films work, combining romantic tension with playful humor and a genuine sense that Rick and Evelyn were partners in increasingly dangerous situations.
Their reunion also arrives during a period in which Fraser has experienced a major career resurgence. Following his Oscar-winning performance in The Whale, the actor has become an especially nostalgic figure for audiences who remember his action-adventure roles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Weisz, meanwhile, has established an extensive career across major studio productions, independent films and prestige dramas. Bringing her back as Evelyn therefore gives the new movie an opportunity to reconnect with the original franchise while benefiting from two performers who have considerably more experience than they did when the first film was released.
How The Mummy 4 Fits Into The Franchise
The original The Mummy arrived in 1999 and became a major success, turning an old Universal monster property into a modern adventure franchise. The Mummy Returns followed in 2001, expanding the mythology while developing Rick and Evelyn’s relationship and introducing their son Alex.
The third main installment, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, arrived in 2008. Fraser returned as Rick, but Weisz did not, and the role of Evelyn was recast with Maria Bello.
Universal later attempted another reboot with Tom Cruise in 2017. That film was intended to help establish a connected “Dark Universe” built around the studio’s classic monsters, but its reception and commercial performance prevented the larger plan from developing as originally envisioned.
The new movie therefore represents a very different strategy. Instead of building another interconnected monster universe around a new version of the property, Universal is bringing back the characters and actors most strongly associated with the franchise’s popular era.
The Mummy 4 Release Date
The fourth Mummy movie is currently scheduled for a theatrical release on October 15, 2027. The date was originally announced as May 19, 2028, before Universal moved the movie forward as part of a wider reshuffling of its release calendar.
That means audiences still have some time to wait before Rick and Evelyn return to the big screen. Production is nevertheless well underway, with filming taking place in England and the first photographs now providing tangible evidence that the long-discussed reunion is becoming a reality.
The movie does not yet have a widely confirmed official title beyond its working description as the fourth Mummy installment. For now, The Mummy 4 remains the simplest way to distinguish the project from the earlier films and the unrelated mummy movies currently being developed by other studios.
What the First Look Tells Us
The early images do not reveal the entire movie, but they provide several encouraging signs for longtime fans. Fraser looks firmly back in adventure mode, Weisz’s Evelyn has an immediately recognizable period-adventure aesthetic, and the presence of elaborate practical-looking vehicles and costumes suggests that the production is embracing the franchise’s old-fashioned blockbuster identity.
Most importantly, the photographs confirm that this is not merely a nostalgic announcement or a casting rumor. Fraser and Weisz are actually filming together again, more than 20 years after audiences last saw Rick and Evelyn share the screen.
For fans who have spent years hoping for another adventure featuring the original pair, that may be the most exciting first look of all. The Mummy 4 still has plenty of mysteries to solve, but with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz officially back, production underway and a 2027 theatrical release on the calendar, the return of Rick and Evelyn is finally more than a possibility—it is happening.
