Hollywood fans are rejoicing as Brendan Fraser officially returns to the beloved The Mummy franchise. Reports from The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline confirm that Fraser will reunite with Rachel Weisz for a brand-new installment, marking their first on-screen reunion since 2001’s The Mummy Returns.
The upcoming sequel arrives 17 years after the last installment, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, and 25 years since Weisz last appeared as Evelyn O’Connell. While Tom Cruise starred in the 2017 reboot, Fraser and Weisz’s return to the franchise is seen as a major fan-driven comeback.
Fraser Reflects on Near-Fatal Accident During Original Film
Fraser’s comeback also evokes memories of his harrowing experience on the original 1999 film. Speaking on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2023, Fraser revealed he “almost died” while filming a hanging scene as Rick O’Connell.
“The camera swooped around and I went on my toes, and the guy holding the rope above me pulled it up a little higher,”Fraser recalled. “I was stuck up on my toes, I had nowhere to go but down. The next thing I knew my elbow was in my ear, the world was sideways, there was gravel in my teeth, and everyone was really quiet.”
In a 1999 David Letterman interview, Fraser revealed that a doctor said he had been technically dead for 12 to 14 seconds. Despite multiple injuries and surgeries over the years, Fraser pushed forward to complete his iconic role.
By the time he filmed The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Fraser described himself as “putting myself together like a gladiator with muscle tape and ice packs.”
A Triumphant Return to Hollywood
The physical and emotional toll of his stunt-heavy career eventually led Fraser to step away from Hollywood for nearly a decade. Fans eagerly anticipate his return, seeing the new The Mummy as a symbolic Hollywood comeback for the Oscar-winning actor.
With Fraser and Weisz back together, audiences can look forward to the adventure, romance, and thrills that made the original films cult classics, while witnessing Fraser’s triumphant return to the big screen.
