Brendan Fraser makes major promise to fans about The Mummy 4

It’s been almost 20 years since Brendan Fraser led The Mummy franchise, and now he’s made a major promise to fans about returning in The Mummy 4.

The franchise came to an end in 2008 with poorly received sequel, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which earned itself a lowly 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes despite earning $403 million at the box office. Universal locked The Mummy away for almost a decade as a result, before attempting to give its horror properties the Avengers-treatment, announcing plans for the Dark Universe.

The Tom Cruise-led reboot of The Mummy attempted to kick-start the horror franchise in 2017, and would’ve included Frankenstein, Dracula, The Creature from the Black Lagoon and more, but it was considered a flop because it failed to earn back its production and marketing costs.

But now, Universal is finally bringing Brendan Fraser to reprise his role as swashbuckling adventurer Rick O’Connell to finish what he started with The Mummy 4, and the actor has made a significant promise to fans about the new sequel.

Brendan Fraser says The Mummy 4 is the film he wanted to make 20 years ago

Universal Pictures

In November, it was widely reported that both Fraser and Rachel Weisz will return to play Rick and Evie O’Connell in The Mummy 4 as an official continuation of the franchise that started back in 1999. Although details about the plot are being kept under wraps, Fraser said that this is the film he wanted to make instead of Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

“The one I wanted to make is forthcoming,” he told AP News “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.”

He explained that the third film was a result of NBC choosing to capitalize on the rights they had for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Universal

“The one I wanted to make was never made. The third one was a model of … how can I say this to the AP reporter? NBC had the rights to broadcast the Olympics that year. So they put two together and we went to China,” Fraser explained, before saying he enjoyed making Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

“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.”

Until we learn more about The Mummy 4, take a look at the best horror movies of all time, discover why you’ll never see Fraser’s Batgirl movie was axed after filming, and check out the best movies of 2025.