If someone asked you to name a movie about the classic Universal monsterThe Mummy, then chances are thoughts would instantly turn toBrendan Fraser’s much-loved combination of Indiana Jones and…well, more Indiana Jones. The 1999 action adventure with a touch of horror is still one of the most successful movies to feature the ancient Egyptian creature, and that means Fraser is best positioned to share his view on why Tom Cruise’s 2017 version didn’t just create a box office bomb, but killed the franchise it was supposed to kick off.
Fraser reunited with the cast ofThe Mummyat Fan Expo Denver (viaCollider), sharing the stage with John Hannah, Patricia Velasquez, and Oded Fehr. It wouldn’t be a Mummy discussion, though, if someone didn’t turn the conversation toCruise’s big-budget box office disaster of a movie. When asked whether there were ever plans for the earlier version ofThe Mummyto crossover with any other monster franchises, Fraser name-checked Cruise in his answer, saying:
“I really don’t know. I know Tom Cruise tried to make his movie and it ain’t easy! We all know how hard this movie is to make…”
When addressing what sets the 1999 version ofThe Mummyapart from the remake, and why Cruise’s version didn’t work, Fraser added:
“With the exception of three [The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor], the thing with all of these films is that, at least it was fun, it was a thrill ride, and you wanted to do it again. The answer is you’ve just got to give everybody what they really really want. If you stray from that path…”
Clearly, if you stray from the path, you alienate the very people you are trying to cater for and entice into cinemas. By removing most of the campy fun from the remake, it was essentially buried in a sarcophagus of its own making.
Would Brendan Fraser Return for a Fourth ‘Mummy’ Movie?
Nostalgic franchise returns have resulted in some big box office wins, and some lesser success stories. CouldThe Mummyrise again for a fourth movie? Back in 2023, as he staged his incredible industry comeback with The Whale, Fraser teased that he would be up for a return toThe Mummyfranchise. He said:
“Sounds like fun. I’m always looking for a job. If anyone’s got the right conceit. I think I’ve never been as famous, and never been as unsalaried at the moment as I am right now. So spread the word.”
Of course, since appearing together inThe Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, both Fraser and costar Michelle Yeoh have become Oscar-winners, which may mean that a newMummymovie is not high on the agenda right now. But then again, there is always a sense of never say never about these things, and the 25th anniversary re-release ofThe Mummyscoring a $1 million win last year certainly pushed the idea thatThe Mummy 4could happen.
Since then, however, Lee Cronin has stepped in to direct a brand-new horror version ofThe Mummy, and that likely puts any idea of Fraser’s franchise returning back into the ground for the time being. Who knows, perhaps it could be resurrected again in a couple of years’ time.
