A recent update on the possibility of Brendan Fraser largely disappeared from Hollywood because of behind-the-scenes issues. He has more recently returned with roles as Cliff Steele/Robotman in Doom Patrol and as Charlie in The Whale.
While it's been over a decade since The Mummy 3 released to poor reception, a recent tease on the possibility of The Mummy 4 has offered Fraser the perfect chance to face the age-old monster once again. Fraser’s role in The Whale has brought him back into the larger spotlight, as the film makes him an Oscar contender. This powerful reminder of Fraser’s abilities, combined with Hollywood's eagerness to revisit old franchises all suggest that the time is ripe for the actor to make a return to The Mummy.
Why The Mummy 4 Could Actually Happen Now
Beyond the cultural alignment of Fraser’s return to the big screen and 90s nostalgia, The Mummy 4 could have an opening to production based on Fraser’s availability. In an interview for The Whale, the actor said that he would be interested in revisiting the series. “I don’t know how it would work,” Fraser said, “But I’d be open to it if someone came up with the right conceit” (via spin-off where Fraser fights classic monsters to be successful. Brendan Fraser also acknowledged that if The Mummy 4 were to become a reality, it would need to lean more towards action and fun as opposed to the horror elements present in some monster films.
Why The Mummy 4 With Brendan Fraser Should Happen Now
Audiences were reminded of the necessity of making installments of The Mummy a romp as well as a thrill when Universal Pictures attempted to reboot the series in 2017. The film did not meet with much success despite it's Tom Cruise casting, but it did provide an insight into what such films would need to make a comeback. Because audiences have seen what they don’t want from the franchise, The Mummy 4 now has the clearest opportunity to meet the vision of what it could (and should) be, which is already close to the The Mummy 4 would have told. By blending the fun of late 90s movies and the nostalgia of a pre-pandemic world, Fraser’s Rick O’Connell is well poised to bring both his star power and camp charm back to the franchise, making this point in time ideal for the series’ next installment.
While Brendan Fraser has not donned his khaki costume for several years, the time is still ripe for The Mummy 4, and the actor, to make their return. Knowing that Fraser would be interested and engaged in a fourth film is all the more encouraging, especially with the knowledge that he’s aware of the tone the film would need to strike. If The Mummy 4's much-needed reboot could successfully reinvigorate its sense of adventure from the original movies, it truly would be the ultimate comeback.
