The Mummy 4: Universal's lost magic, finally unwrapped

Hold onto your scarabs one of Hollywood's most beloved adventure franchises is clawing its way back from the dead, and this time, it's bringing the whole family.

Universal Pictures has confirmed that The Mummy 4 is officially in development, with a theatrical release set for May 19, 2028 . The announcement has sent waves of excitement through fans who grew up watching Brendan Fraser battle undead Egyptian priests in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The biggest headline? Rachel Weisz is back. The Academy Award-winning actress, who famously sat out the third installment 2008's Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is returning alongside Brendan Fraser to reprise her role as the sharp-witted Egyptologist Evelyn O'Connell. Both stars will also wear producer hats this time around, hinting at a deeper creative stake in how the story unfolds.

Behind the camera, Universal has tapped Radio Silence, the directing duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett , known for breathing new life into the Scream franchise to helm the project. The script comes from writer David Coggeshall , and early buzz suggests the story may sweep audiences away to the sun-drenched landscapes of Peru , picking up with Rick and Evelyn's family of globe-trotting adventurers.

Notably, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor appears to have been quietly sidelined from the timeline , allowing the new film to reconnect with the warmth and swashbuckling spirit that defined the first two chapters.

Fraser himself has been vocal about wanting to recapture what made the originals so magnetic, a rare blend of humor, heart, and hair-raising action that the 2017 Tom Cruise reboot conspicuously lacked.

Whether fan favorites like Oded Fehr or John Hannah will return remains an open question but if the pieces continue falling into place, The Mummy 4 could be the comeback story of the decade.