The Mummy 4 started filming, and it ignores “Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”

Brendan Fraser confirmed cameras rolled Sept. 7 on the fourth Mummy film, with Rachel Weisz back for the first time since 2001. The directors say it picks up from The Mummy Returns.

Brendan Fraser is back in the tomb.

The fourth Mummy film began principal photography on Sept. 7, with Fraser confirming the start himself.

Rachel Weisz returns as Evelyn O’Connell for the first time since 2001.

When does The Mummy 4 come out?

Universal has the film dated for Oct. 15, 2027.

That is seven months earlier than originally planned. The studio had it slated for May 19, 2028 before moving it up, putting the O’Connells in the Halloween corridor instead of a late-spring slot.

The vacated May 2028 date now belongs to Miami Vice ‘85, the Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler film.

Does The Mummy 4 ignore Tomb of the Dragon Emperor?

Yes, according to the directors.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have said the new film picks up from “The Mummy Returns” and disregards the 2008 sequel, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.”

Weisz sat out that installment, with Maria Bello taking over as Evelyn. Reuniting the original leads required stepping around it.

The 1999 and 2001 films remain the widely celebrated pair. The third was received as a disappointment.

Who is in The Mummy 4 cast?

Universal has assembled most of the original ensemble.

Fraser returns as Rick O’Connell and Weisz as Evelyn. John Hannah is back as her brother Jonathan Carnahan.

Oded Fehr returns as Ardeth Bay. Kevin J. O’Connor returns as Beni, which is a surprise given how the 1999 film ended for that character. Arnold Vosloo is also attached.

Numan Acar, of “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and “Homeland,” joins the franchise in a role Universal is keeping quiet.

Speculation surrounds another casting as Alex O’Connell, Rick and Evelyn’s son, played by Freddie Boath in “The Mummy Returns” and Luke Ford in the 2008 sequel. Universal has confirmed nothing.

Who is directing The Mummy 4?

Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett direct, working as Radio Silence.

Their credits run “Ready or Not,” “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” 2022’s “Scream,” “Scream VI” and “Abigail.” They have a track record of restarting genre properties that studios had let go cold.

David Coggeshall wrote the screenplay. His credits include “Orphan: First Kill” and the “Family Plan” films.

Sean Daniel, who produced the original trilogy, returns. Project X Entertainment’s William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein produce alongside him, with Fraser executive producing.

Where is The Mummy 4 filming?

The production is based in the United Kingdom.

Fraser traveled from Deauville directly to Sky Studios in London, where part of the shoot takes place.

The film also shoots in Morocco, returning the franchise to desert locations.

What has Brendan Fraser said about returning?

He has been candid about the physical side.

Fraser is 57. He told Canal+ he did substantial physical preparation for the role.

On The Tonight Show earlier this year, he joked that he was doing his best to get 57-year-old gear in shape, then teased that production would revisit original filming locations before catching himself for giving away too much.

Fraser has described this as the Mummy movie he waited 20 years to make. He has pointed to fun as the ingredient missing from Universal’s 2017 reboot with Tom Cruise.

What does the cast say about the script?

John Hannah addressed his own hesitation directly.

Speaking to Digital Spy at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Hannah said he read the script and called it terrific.

His reservations, he explained, were about whether the project amounted to a cynical rehash designed to pull audiences back into theaters.

Gillett has described the film as beautiful, scary and sweeping. Bettinelli-Olpin has suggested Fraser and Weisz would not have signed on without genuine confidence in the story.

Why did The Mummy take so long to come back?

The franchise spent more than a decade in limbo.

Maria Bello said another film would absolutely happen and had already signed. Luke Ford was signed for three films. Universal canceled that project in 2012 and pivoted to a reboot.

The 2017 version starring Tom Cruise was intended to launch a shared monster universe. It did not connect, and the studio shelved the concept.

The fourth film entered development in November 2025. Universal declined to comment when the reunion was first reported.

Production companies on the new film are Project X Entertainment, Radio Silence Productions, and Hivemind.

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• Dread Central, the filming start confirmation, the full returning cast including Oded Fehr and Kevin J. O’Connor, and the Numan Acar casting

• Cosmic Book News, the Sky Studios and Morocco locations, the producing lineup and the directors’ confirmation that the film ignores the 2008 sequel

• ScreenRant, the Alex O’Connell speculation and the production timeline

• Gizmodo (April 2026), the release date move and the Miami Vice ‘85 slot swap

• Digital Spy, via NewsBeep, John Hannah’s comments at the Edinburgh International Film Festival

• The Main Street Mouse, Fraser’s Tonight Show remarks

• Comic Basics, the Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin statements on the project

• Variety, the original reunion report and Universal’s initial no comment

• Wikipedia, the franchise production history and the 2012 cancellation

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