‘The Mummy 4’ Directors Say ‘Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ Is Not Canon: “Rachel Weisz Is In This One”

After nearly 20 years, the third installment in The Mummy franchise is going back in the sarcophagus.

Radio Silence directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who have signed on to direct The Mummy 4, recently addressed whether 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor will be canon to the next installment, which Universal is set to release on May 19, 2028.

“Well, Rachel [Weisz] is in this one,” Bettinelli-Olpin told Entertainment Weekly, as Gillett added, “That should answer the question for you.”

Despite starring in The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001) as Egyptologist, Evelyn Carnahan, she sat out the third movie. Maria Bello took over the role, joining Brendan Fraser as her husband and fellow adventurer Rick O’Connell.

Last month, Fraser and Weisz signed on to reprise their roles in The Mummy 4, which will be directed by Radio Silence from a script by David Coggeshal.

Fraser previously explained that the third film was an attempt for NBC to cash in on that year’s Summer Olympics in Beijing. “The one I wanted to make was never made,” he told the AP in November.

“NBC had the rights to broadcast the Olympics that year,” he said. “So they put two together and we went to China. Working in Shanghai, an incredible experience. I’m proud of the third one because I think it’s a good standalone movie. We picked up and did what we do with a different crew on deck and gave it our best shot.”

Fraser continued, “But the one I wanted to make is forthcoming. And I’ve been waiting 20 years for this call. Sometimes it was loud, sometimes it was a faint telegraph. Now? It’s time to give the fans what they want.”