The Mummy-October 5th Part 2
Aaron Perez
10-5-2026
The Mummy franchise has risen, shuffled, and reinvented itself across nearly a century of cinema. From Boris Karloff’s iconic slow-moving horror icon to Brendan Fraser’s wisecracking adventurer, a disastrous shared-universe reboot, and a pair of very different modern takes, the bandaged undead keep coming back. Here’s a look at the key eras: the 1930s Universal classics and their sequels, the beloved 1999 adventure reboot and its follow-ups (including the upcoming fourth film), the 2017 Dark Universe misfire, and the 2026 horror reimagining.
The Original Universal Series (1932–1955)
Universal’s classic monster cycle kicked off The Mummy in 1932, directed by Karl Freund and starring Boris Karloff as Imhotep (also known as Ardeth Bey). Archaeologists accidentally revive the ancient Egyptian priest, who was buried alive for attempting to resurrect his forbidden love, Anck-es-en-Amon. Imhotep seeks her modern reincarnation while using ancient magic. The film is atmospheric, tragic, and more romantic than pure monster mayhem—Karloff’s performance and the makeup effects made it a landmark.
Unlike Dracula or Frankenstein, there was no direct sequel. Instead, Universal reimagined the concept starting with The Mummy’s Hand (1940). This introduced the mummy Kharis (Tom Tyler), a different character cursed to guard Princess Ananka’s tomb. Lon Chaney Jr. took over as Kharis for the next three films: The Mummy’s Tomb (1942), The Mummy’s Ghost (1944), and The Mummy’s Curse (1944). These lean into B-movie horror with formulaic plots involving high priests, tana leaves to control the mummy, and the inevitable rampage. The series closed with the comedy crossover Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955), featuring a version called Klaris.
These films cemented the shambling, bandage-wrapped mummy in popular culture, even if the later entries grew repetitive. (Hammer Films later produced its own series in the UK starting with a 1959 remake starring Christopher Lee, but that’s a separate chapter.)
The 1999 Adventure Reboot and Sequels
Stephen Sommers completely reinvented the property with The Mummy (1999). This was an Indiana Jones-style action-adventure-comedy rather than straight horror. Brendan Fraser stars as Rick O’Connell, a wisecracking adventurer who joins librarian Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah) on a dig at Hamunaptra. They accidentally resurrect high priest Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), who seeks to bring back his lost love Anck-su-Namun while raising plagues and undead armies. Oded Fehr’s Medjai warrior Ardeth Bay and Kevin J. O’Connor’s sleazy Beni add flavor.
The film mixed practical effects, early CGI, humor, romance, and spectacle. It grossed over $400 million worldwide on an $80 million budget and became a cultural touchstone.
The Mummy Returns (2001) reunited the core cast (plus young Freddie Boath as their son Alex) and introduced Dwayne Johnson as the Scorpion King in a brief but memorable role. Set a few years later, it ups the action and CGI as Imhotep returns and the family races to stop an ancient army. It was another massive commercial hit (around $435 million worldwide).
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), directed by Rob Cohen, shifted the action to China. Brendan Fraser returned as Rick, but Rachel Weisz did not; Maria Bello played Evelyn, with Luke Ford as adult Alex. Jet Li starred as the resurrected Dragon Emperor opposite Michelle Yeoh. The film underperformed critically and relatively at the box office compared to its predecessors (still over $400 million worldwide but seen as the weakest of the trilogy). It largely ended the original run of the Fraser series.
A spin-off prequel, The Scorpion King (2002), launched its own series starring Johnson.
The Upcoming Fourth Film in the Fraser Series
A long-awaited fourth installment is now in production. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Radio Silence, of Scream and Ready or Not fame) from a script by David Coggeshall, it reunites Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz as Rick and Evelyn O’Connell. John Hannah, Oded Fehr, Arnold Vosloo (Imhotep), and Kevin J. O’Connor are also returning. New cast includes Michael Johnston and Numan Acar.
Importantly, the film is a direct sequel to The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001), effectively ignoring or retconning Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Filming has been underway (including in England), with a theatrical release currently set for October 15, 2027 (moved up from an earlier 2028 date). Plot details remain under wraps, but fans are excited for the core chemistry and adventure tone to return.
The Failed Dark Universe Remake (2017)
Universal attempted to launch a shared “Dark Universe” of classic monsters with The Mummy (2017), directed by Alex Kurtzman. Tom Cruise stars as soldier-of-fortune Nick Morton, who accidentally awakens the ancient Egyptian princess Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella). Annabelle Wallis plays an archaeologist, with Russell Crowe as Dr. Henry Jekyll (setting up future crossovers) and Jake Johnson in support.
Intended as the foundation for films featuring the Invisible Man, Frankenstein, and others (with planned stars including Johnny Depp and Javier Bardem), the movie suffered from tonal issues, franchise-first storytelling, and mixed execution. It earned about $410 million worldwide but on a very high production and marketing budget, resulting in a significant loss. Poor critical and audience reception killed the Dark Universe before it could expand.
The 2026 Horror Reimagining
Completely separate from Universal’s films is Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (also known simply as The Mummy), released in April 2026 by Warner Bros./New Line in association with Blumhouse and Atomic Monster. Written and directed by Lee Cronin (Evil Dead Rise), this is a supernatural horror film focused on possession and family trauma rather than adventure.
Jack Reynor stars as journalist Charlie Cannon, whose young daughter disappears in the desert. Eight years later she returns (played by Natalie Grace as the older Katie), partially mummified and altered. The family (including Laia Costa as his wife Larissa, plus their other children) soon realizes a malignant ancient force—tied to an Egyptian demon/parasite with exorcism themes—has come home with her. May Calamawy plays a detective investigating the case; supporting cast includes Verónica Falcón, May Elghety, and others.
It is a darker, more intimate, and graphic take that deliberately distances itself from the Fraser films’ tone while drawing on mummy mythology. The film received mixed reviews but found an audience as a modern horror entry.
A Franchise That Refuses to Stay Buried
From Karloff’s tragic Imhotep to Fraser’s quip-filled heroics, Cruise’s high-stakes action, and Cronin’s possession nightmare, The Mummy has proven remarkably adaptable. The upcoming 2027 Fraser/Weisz reunion promises a return to the swashbuckling fun that defined the late-’90s/early-2000s era, while the 2026 film shows the concept still has life in pure horror form. Whether as classic Universal monster, blockbuster adventurer, or contemporary terror, the mummy keeps rising.
Sources:
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“The Mummy (1999 film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mummy_(1999_film). Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
“The Mummy (2017 film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mummy_(2017_film). Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
“The Mummy (franchise).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Oct. 2026, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mummy_(franchise). Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
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