After years of “maybe someday” chatter, Universal Pictures has officially put a date on the calendar for its next entry in the Mummy saga. The studio is targeting a wide theatrical release on May 19, 2028, and the big headline is the return of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz to the franchise that made them a pop culture staple.
For fans, the date matters, but the commitment matters more. When a studio locks a release, it usually means the project has cleared a major hurdle: the movie is no longer a “development” conversation; it’s a production plan.
Why This One Feels Like a Real Reunion, Not a Nostalgia Grab
The original The Mummy worked because it knew exactly what it was: a pulpy adventure with horror flavoring, big set pieces, and leads who played the danger straight without taking themselves too seriously. The follow-up, The Mummy Returns, kept the momentum going, and then the series swerved into a different lane with The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which didn’t feature Weisz.
That gap is part of why her return is such a headline. It signals that this sequel is aiming to reconnect with the version of the series fans actually quote, rewatch, and bring up whenever someone says “they don’t make adventure movies like that anymore.”
The Filmmakers Suggest a Sharper Horror Edge
The new film is set to be directed by Radio Silence, specifically Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. That’s an interesting pairing for a franchise that has always balanced scares with crowd pleasing action. Their track record points to energy, pacing, and a willingness to get a little mean with the tension when the moment calls for it.
The script is from David Coggeshall, and longtime franchise producer Sean Daniel is back as well, which could help keep the tone anchored to what worked before instead of chasing whatever “franchise template” is popular in the year it shoots.
What We Actually Know (And What’s Still Being Kept Quiet)
Plot details are still locked down. That’s normal this far out, especially when the hook is the cast and the promise of returning to an earlier era of the property.
Here’s the clean snapshot of what’s been confirmed so far:
- Release date: May 19, 2028
- Returning leads: Fraser and Weisz
- Directors: Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett
- Writer: Coggeshall
- Key producer returning: Daniel
Everything else is still rumor territory, and the smart move is to wait for a first official synopsis before guessing whether this is a direct continuation, a soft reboot, or something that threads the needle.
Why Fans Should Care Right Now
Even with the movie more than two years away, this announcement is a signal that Universal believes there’s still real demand for big, old school adventure-horror that plays well in theaters. If they stick the landing, this could be a rare legacy sequel that feels less like a reunion tour and more like the next chapter fans always wanted but stopped expecting.
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