Directors of Upcoming ‘Mummy’ Sequel Hint at Major Change to Franchise Canon
The Mummy franchise is rising from its tomb nearly two decades after the last film in the Brendan Fraser-led action-adventure horror series. However, it seems like the upcoming fourth movie won't be picking up where the third film, 2008's Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, left off. In a new interview, the directors of The Mummy 4 strongly hinted that Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is no longer canon.
The Mummy, starring Fraser and Rachel Weisz, came out in 1999 and is beloved as a fun, exciting, and just-scary-enough genre mashup to this day. A sequel, The Mummy Returns, released in 2001. When it came time for a third movie, though, Weisz declined to reprise her role as Egyptologist-turned-mummy slayer Evelyn O’Connell. Actress Maria Bello was recast in her place, and the flick moved the action from Egypt to China, where Evelyn and Fraser's Rick did battle with an evil immortal warlord played by Jet Li.
Tomb of the Dragon Emperor did okay, making $405.8 million when it came out in the summer of 2008, but it was the lowest-grossing of the three Mummy movies and critics and audiences largely agreed it was the worst of the bunch by far. Both Fraser and Weisz are returning for the upcoming fourth Mummy flick, which is due out in 2028. Weisz coming back after a one film absence, plus Tomb of the Dragon Emperor's relative unpopularity, might explain why. Entertainment Weekly explicitly asked the directors of the fourth movie whether or not the movie is still canon.
Cannon Change
“Well, Rachel is in this one,” Matt Bettinelli-Olpin replied. His co-director, Tyler Gillett, added “That should answer the question for you.”
It's not a straight-up yes or no, but the director duo seem to be implying that the Mummy movie that didn't star Weisz isn't a Mummy movie by their standards, and that the next film will pick up where The Mummy Returns left off and ignore Rick and Evelyn's adventure in China.
“I don’t think Brendan and Rachel are getting involved unless they love that script, and what they read, I think they really liked," Gillett said, praising writer Dave Coggeshall's screenplay. "And it’s a good script. It’s gonna be fun to make.”
Brendan Fraser Said 'Tomb of the Dragon Emperor' Wasn't the Movie He Wanted to Make
In an interview with The Associated Presslast year, Fraser explained that Tomb of the DragonEmperor was something of an outlier for The Mummy franchise from the start.
“The one I wanted to make was never made,” he said, explaining that the choice to go to China was corporate synergy since the Beijing Olympics were also in 2008.
“Working in Shanghai, an incredible experience. I’m proud of the third one because I think it’s a good standalone movie. We picked up and did what we do with a different crew on deck and gave it our best shot,” Fraser said. “But the one I wanted to make is forthcoming. And I’ve been waiting 20 years for this call. Sometimes it was loud, sometimes it was a faint telegraph. Now? It’s time to give the fans what they want.”