Title and release date confirmed
Universal Pictures has announced that its forthcoming Mummy movie will be titled The Mummy: Book of the Dead. The studio made the title public on Thursday. The film is scheduled to reach theaters on October 15, 2027, exactly one year after the announcement. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the duo known as Radio Silence, will direct. David Coggeshall, whose credits include The Family Plan, wrote the screenplay.[S1][S2][S3][S4]
Cast and production team
Brendan Fraser returns as Rick O'Connell, with Rachel Weisz back as Evie O'Connell. The cast also features John Hannah, Michael Johnston, Numan Acar, Kevin J. O'Connor and Oded Fehr. Producers include Sean Daniel, who has worked on five earlier films in the franchise, along with William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein for Project X Entertainment. Clayton Townsend also produces, while Fraser and Hivemind's Jason F. Brown serve as executive producers.[S1]
A direct sequel in a long-running franchise
The Mummy: Book of the Dead is a direct sequel to the 1999 film The Mummy and its 2001 follow-up The Mummy Returns. The franchise also includes 2008's The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which received a poor reception, and a 2017 reboot led by Tom Cruise. The 1999 movie spawned the 2002 spinoff The Scorpion King, which gave Dwayne Johnson his first lead film role. The classic Universal monster property first appeared with Boris Karloff in the title role of the 1932 feature The Mummy. The five theatrical films that began with the 1999 release have collectively grossed more than $1.8 billion worldwide.[S1]
Director reflects on lasting appeal
For the 25th anniversary of the 1999 movie, director Stephen Sommers told The Hollywood Reporter that he remains pleased with its enduring cultural impact. He noted that the film is always showing somewhere on television and that the residual checks are great. He added that it has somehow endeared itself to many people. The 1999 movie followed treasure hunter Rick as he set out on an adventure with Evie and her brother Jonathan, played by Hannah, during which they accidentally awaken a mummy.[S1]
