If you go through this summer’s reboots, there was a ton of love for ‘90s franchises. Between the return of Men in Black and Disney remakes for Aladdin and Lion King, Hollywood has been reppin’ some totally nostalgic releases. Another prominent film of the era is Universal’s The Mummy starring Brendan Fraser. It was one of the biggest hits of summer 1999 and spawned two sequels and a spinoff franchise.
In 2017, the studio unfortunately rushed through a Mummy reboot starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella and failed to bring the franchise back from the dead. The plan was start its own “Dark Universe” starring movie monsters from Universal’s beginnings. But, if there was to be yet another Mummy remake, would Brendan Fraser return as Rick O’Connell? Here’s what he says:
Absolutely! Just gotta say, I know how hard it is to make that movie. I tried to do it three times, and the essential ingredient is fun. You gotta remember to have fun. So if there’s a fun way to approach it again, I’m all in.
So there is hope for Rick O’Connell to return to the big screen… that is, if the studio figures out how to have ‘fun’ with it again! The minute the Mummy franchise tried to go all dark and broody, it failed among audiences. The 2017 reboot hardly impressed with a $80 million domestic gross on a $125 budget. It may have racked up cash with a $409 million in overall global earnings but it quickly dismantled Universal’s plans for a cinematic world of their own.
Brendan Fraser sounds sympathetic to the studio’s failures with the 2017 reboot, but he’s game to come back to the adventure franchise if the people want it. During his appearance at FAN EXPO Canada (via ComicBook), the crowd cheered at the idea of another Mummy appearance from Fraser at the discussion of it during his Q&A panel. He said “Did you hear that, Universal?” amidst the enthusiasm.
He also gushed about his former Mummy co-star with these words:
Working with Rachel, it’s Rachel fucking Weisz! She’s wonderful, you know, if you’re really impressed with talent and good humor. A belly laugh that could break a window.
The Oscar-winner showed off some magnetic and hilarious chemistry with Brendan Fraser in the first two Mummy films, before Evie was replaced with Maria Bello for the third 2008 movie. I think most fans would agree if Fraser was to return to the franchise, it just wouldn’t be the same without the return of Rachel Weisz as well.
What about Dwayne Johnson also coming back as the Scorpion King too? The action star had just got his start in acting when he played the villain in The Mummy Returns. It would certainly buff up interest!
All of the stars of The Mummy are certainly staying busy either way. Brendan Fraser plays Cliff Steele/Robotman on DC’s Doom Patrol. Rachel Weisz is gearing up for an MCU debut in Black Widow next summer and Dwayne Johnson is in every action movie… including a future Black Adam solo project.
All that is left of Universal’s “Dark Universe” plans is a standalone The Invisible Man movie starring Elisabeth Moss coming February 28, 2020.
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