Brendan Fraser, the Oscar-winning actor, has offered an intriguing development regarding The Mummy franchise and the prospect of a fourth instalment. During a recent chat, the 57 year old American-Canadian performer suggested he might be donning the mantle of adventurous explorer Rick O’Connell once more, reports the Mirror.

In conversation with Radio Times, the star of The Whale and George of the Jungle kept details under wraps but expressed optimism that he would “have good news soon”, citing the global appeal of the series. He mysteriously remarked: “Let’s all keep our fingers crossed and light a candle.”

When asked about returning to the legendary character that launched him to stardom more than 25 years ago, Fraser confirmed he would “absolutely” welcome the opportunity to revisit that universe. The actor elaborated that he’s always been drawn to the notion of returning to The Mummy and “always will”, though he conceded “it’s not up to me to pull the that trigger”.

These remarks came whilst discussing his latest project Rental Family, where Fraser portrays an actor employed by a Japanese household to play a father figure. This practice of hiring actors has existed in Japan since the 1980s, and the film examines the lines between authenticity and performance.

The cast of Rental Family includes Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto.

The interview follows speculative reports from last year, as per Deadline, hinting that both Fraser and his co-star Rachel Weisz were in discussions to reprise their roles in The Mummy 4.

The sequel is rumoured to be directed by production company Radio Silence, although plot details remain a closely guarded secret. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are said to be at the helm.

David Coggeshall, known for his work on The Family Plan films, is reportedly penning the script. Sean Daniel, a seasoned producer of The Mummy franchise, is expected to produce the film alongside William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein from Project X Entertainment.

Both Radio Silence and Project X have previously collaborated on the Scream franchise.

The Mummy, which first graced cinema screens in 1999, starred Fraser alongside British actress Weisz and Scottish actor John Hannah. The film was a box office sensation, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year and spawning two sequels: The Mummy Returns in 2001 and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in 2008.

The latter saw Fraser and Hannah return, but without Weisz. The cast also featured Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Maria Bello, Russell Wong, and Liam Cunningham, among others.

If Fraser and Weisz both agree to star in The Mummy 4, it would be their first on-screen reunion since The Mummy Returns. The Mummy series was a massive hit, spawning the 2002 spin-off The Scorpion King featuring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, which itself led to several sequels.

The Mummy’s success also inspired attractions at Universal’s theme parks in Hollywood, Florida and Singapore.

The 1999 version of The Mummy was a remake of the 1932 Boris Karloff film, but it has far outstripped the original in terms of success. An attempt was made to revive the franchise with Tom Cruise’s The Mummy in 2017, but it received negative reviews and failed to replicate the impact of the 1999 film.

There were high hopes that the 2017 film would kickstart a new wave of monster movies under Universal’s Dark Universe brand. Despite performing well at the box office, the poor critical response resulted in the Dark Universe being put on hold.

However, The Mummy 4 could breathe new life into the franchise, capitalising on 90s nostalgia for the films.

The Mummy is streaming on NOW and Prime Video for a fee

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