James Wan Officially Confirms How His Mummy Movie Is Different Than Brendan Fraser’s

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Blumhouse is gearing up to release a major film in 2026, and its title is also used by several well-known movies. Producer James Wan wants to clarify that this new film isn’t related to the popular franchise featuring Brendan Fraser.

So, there’s been a lot of talk about another mummy movie, and people keep mixing it up with ours. We really wanted to make it clear this isn’t that one! We’re going for straight-up horror, and we wanted to get back to what made the original mummy films scary. Think Boris Karloff in the 1930s – that was pure horror, right? That’s the vibe we’re going for with a modern spin. That’s why we reached out to Lee early on; we felt his style and vision were exactly what we needed to make our mummy movie stand out and be truly unique.

The director of the 2023 film Evil Dead Rise reimagines a classic monster story. Instead of an ancient priest brought back to life, this version features a young girl discovered alive inside a sarcophagus years after she vanished. She’s been mummified, but remains alive, becoming the central creature of the story.

Instead of a spooky, family-centered story, writer and director Stephen Sommers created a fast-paced, action-packed adventure when he revisited this classic horror story. His 1999 film is much more like an Indiana Jones movie than a traditional haunted tale.

Blumhouse has gone to some lengths to differentiate their Mummy film from previous versions, going beyond simply including writer H.G. Cronin’s name in the title. Most notably, they’ve repeatedly posted the same message on social media clarifying that Brendan Fraser isn’t involved in this new take on the story.

The new Mummy film, directed by Lee Cronin, stars Jack Reynor (known from Midsommar) as a journalist named Charlie, alongside Laia Costa as his wife, Larissa. Natalie Grace plays their daughter, Katie, who was previously missing, and May Calamawy, of Moon Knight fame, appears as a detective looking into Katie’s case. Fans hoping to see Brendan Fraser battling mummies won’t have to wait much longer either.

There Is Another Brendan Fraser-Led Mummy Movie In The Works

Some fans were hoping the new Mummy film would be a continuation of the original movies starring Brendan Fraser, and were disappointed it wasn’t. Now, it seems those fans are getting what they wished for. This news is especially exciting for those who enjoyed director Lee Cronin’s previous work, like Evil Dead Rise.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the directors behind films like Ready or Not and the recent Scream movies, are working on a new Mummy sequel. This third installment, a follow-up to the 1999 film, is scheduled for release on May 19, 2028, and will star Brendan Fraser, reprising his role as Rick O’Connell, alongside Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz as his intelligent wife, Evelyn.

The cast originally returned for The Mummy Returns in 2001, with Arnold Vosloo reprising his role as Imhotep. This film also marked Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s first appearance as The Scorpion King. Later, in 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Evelyn Carnahan was played by Maria Bello, though this change wasn’t the reason the film was poorly received by critics and audiences.

While not a massive hit, the third film performed better than Universal’s initial 2017 reboot starring Tom Cruise. That first attempt, The Mummy, directed by Alex Kurtzman, was a critical and commercial failure, effectively ending plans for a connected series of monster movies known as the Dark Universe.

After a long wait for a fourth Mummy movie, it’s likely to perform well in theaters. Plus, fans who prefer a scarier horror experience will get exactly that with Lee Cronin’s take on The Mummy.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy awakens in theaters on April 17.

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2026-04-17 00:46