Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser reunite on The Mummy 4 set after 25 years

Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser have been photographed together on the set of the fourth film in Universal's The Mummy series, the first time the two actors have been seen side by side as Evelyn and Rick O'Connell since The Mummy Returns in 2001. The photographs, which spread widely online on October 14 and 15, 2026, follow earlier images of each actor filming separately in England: Fraser at a former military base in Suffolk in late September, driving a silver-and-red rocket car in what appears to be a 1957 speed-trial scene, and Weisz outside the British Museum in London. Universal has not released a title or plot, and the film is due in cinemas on October 15, 2027.

The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001) were among the most popular adventure films of their era, mixing action, comedy and romance in a way many viewers still revisit. Much of their appeal rested on the chemistry between Fraser and Weisz. When Weisz stepped away from the third film in 2008 and her role was recast, many fans felt something important had gone. Seeing both actors back in costume is therefore the clearest sign yet that the new film is aimed squarely at the audience that grew up with the originals.

The project is positioned as a direct follow-up to The Mummy Returns rather than to the 2008 film, and it is separate from other recent attempts to restart the brand. That matters for viewers because it signals a return to the tone of the earlier films instead of a reboot with new leads. It also continues Fraser's late-career revival, which gathered pace after his Academy Award-winning performance in The Whale.

The choice of directors is also notable. Radio Silence is best known for horror and horror-comedy, including Ready or Not and the recent Scream films. The Mummy films have always balanced scares with humour, so the pairing suggests the studio wants to keep that blend, perhaps with a sharper edge.

The set photos give only small clues. A rocket car built for speed trials and 1950s-style clothing point to a story set years after the earlier adventures, which took place in the 1920s and 1930s. That would allow the characters to have aged along with the actors, a common approach in recent legacy sequels. None of this has been confirmed, and Universal has kept the story under wraps.

Short-term: The images have set off a wave of fan discussion and theories online. Expect more leaked set photos while filming continues in London and Suffolk, and pressure on Universal to share an official first look, title or teaser.

Long-term: If the film succeeds, it could revive one of Universal's most valuable adventure series and encourage more legacy sequels built around original casts rather than recasts. A release in mid-October also places it just before Halloween, a season that suits a film about curses and the undead.

Who is affected: Fans of the original films, cinema chains planning their 2027 calendars, and the actors themselves, for whom the film marks a return to some of their best-known roles. For audiences in India, where the earlier films were widely watched on television and in dubbed versions, it is a reunion many will recognise.

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