Some photos put a bigger smile on your face than others, and the shots of Brendan Fraser back in Rick O'Connell's boots for The Mummy 4 are definitely in that category. Because yes, that's it, filming kicked off nearly a month ago. Almost 30 years after the first film in 1999, the actor has been spotted in aviator gear in England, a new look that suits him perfectly. But Brendan Fraser isn't on his own: Rachel Weisz is back too as Evelyn O'Connell, which means the two actors are reuniting on screen 25 years after their last adventure together, since — as you'll recall — Mrs Daniel Craig didn't appear in The Mummy 3.
Never mind all that, though: what matters here is that filming on The Mummy 4 began on 7 September in Britain, and that Brendan Fraser was photographed at a former military base in Suffolk. At 57, the actor is taking up the role of Rick O'Connell again, albeit with a few more years on the clock, and we imagine the script will take that passage of time into account. Dressed in a leather jacket and wearing a crash helmet, Brendan Fraser was notably spotted at the wheel of a striking silver and red rocket car bearing the name EPSA, for a sequence set in 1957 that appears to revolve around a very high-speed race. Extras were also wearing outfits branded Rick O'Connell Racing. Rachel Weisz, for her part, was also photographed on set, right outside the British Museum in London, in a period costume of her own. She's wearing a yellow polka-dot skirt, a brown jacket and a matching hat, with a leather briefcase in hand.
For now, we know nothing about the plot, but Brendan Fraser has already confirmed that the film will aim to recapture the spirit of the first movies, with that laid-back, family-friendly feel. One small detail, though: during his appearance on Jimmy Fallon's "The Tonight Show" last May, the actor explained that the team would be getting the whole gang back together and returning to some of the locations associated with the early films. That means John Hannah, Oded Fehr and Kevin J. O'Connor should also be reprising their respective roles. We've also learned that Michael Johnston and Numan Acar will be among the franchise newcomers, playing new characters.
As for the release, The Mummy 4 will actually be hitting cinemas earlier than expected, since Universal Pictures has brought its US release forward to 15 October 2027, having initially slated it for May 2028. In France, the film is due on 13 October 2027. That'll come round quickly, honestly.
