The Mummy star Brendan Fraser is “not opposed” to returning to the role of Rick O'Connell for another sequel in the action-adventure franchise. Declaring “sign me up” while discussing the idea of another The Mummy outing with Pete Hammond of Deadline, Fraser says that he would never turn down the chance (or the salary) that would come with once again facing off against the undead Imhotep.
“Gosh, I don’t know any juicy details about it. But it’s kind of an open-ended question for some time now. I’m not opposed to it. I don’t know an actor that doesn’t want a job. I don’t think I’ve been this famous and unsalaried at the same time in my professional life, so sign me up.”
Released back in 1999, The Mummy stars Brendan Fraser as adventurer Rick O'Connell alongside Rachel Weisz as Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan. The pair must work together when a cursed high priest with supernatural powers, Imhotep, is accidently awakened and proceeds to carry out his vendetta against mankind. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics upon release, The Mummy was a financial success, and has since become a favorite among audiences for its golden-age action-adventure charm.
The Mummy was followed by two sequels, The Mummy Returns in 2001 and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in 2008, before being rebooted by Tom Cruise in 2017. A reboot that did not go well at all.
Ever since, fans have wondered whether Brendan Fraser would ever be asked back to bring The Mummy franchise back to the delightful place that it should be, with the actor stating that he would be open to a return should the right storyline be found. “I don’t know how it would work, but I’d be open to it if someone came up with the right conceit,” Fraser said last year.
With The Brenaissance now in full swing, audiences would no doubt love to see Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz reunite for further adventures. In fact, why not resurrect the Dark Universe with Rick O'Connell and Evelyn Carnahan at its center, throwing the pair against all manner of different Universal monsters? One can dream...
Brendan Fraser is Now an Academy Award Favorite for His Performance in The Whale
For now, Brendan Fraser is busy battling things a lot more down-to-earth than all-powerful mummies in The Whale. Based on the 2012 play by Samuel D. Hunter, The Whale sees Fraser leading the latest outing from director Darren Aronofsky. Fraser stars in The Whale as Charlie, a 600-pound middle-aged man who tries to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter. The two have grown apart after Charlie abandoned his family for his gay lover, who later died, which leads to Charlie binge-eating out of pain and guilt.
Starring Hong Chau, Samantha Morton, Ty Simpkins, and Sadie Sink alongside Brendan Fraser, The Whale was released in theaters on December 21, 2022. Fraser’s performance has so far brought him all manner of standing ovations, critical praise, and awards, with the actor currently a front runner to take home the Academy Award for Best Actor at The 95th Academy Awards.