Universal failed to kickstart the Dark Universe with 2017’s Mission: Impossible movies continuing to thrive at the box office, it’s easy to see why Universal brought in Tom Cruise to headline their potential new franchise. However, Cruise is certainly no Fraser, and the reboot was devoid of the charm and old-school fun that made the movie such a beloved blockbuster.
Director Stephen Sommers reinvented Universal’s classic 1932 The Mummy, offering an Indiana Jones-style adventure that effectively paid homage to its monster movie roots while injecting loads of tongue-in-cheek humor. Released in 1999, the film was an instant box office success, and the 2001 sequel The Mummy Returns was swiftly greenlit. While inferior to the original, the second installment was still hugely popular, with a third movie eventually arriving seven years later.
Dwayne Johnson’s Scorpion King, and Jet Li’s Dragon Emperor.
While story details are scarce, it’s a safe bet there would have been plenty of South American mummies and some form of ancient curse. Fraser was to once again lead the sequel, accompanied by John Hannah as the only two original cast to appear in every entry. Meanwhile, Maria Bello and Luke Ford were to reprise their roles of archaeologist Evelyn and son Alex, having previously replaced Rachel Weisz and Freddie Boath for Tomb of the Dagon Emperor. In fact, both actors were contracted for multiple films. Universal clearly had no intention of ending the franchise, leading to a mild surprise when they ultimately canceled the sequel.
Still, there’s no telling how The Mummy 4 would have been received. While Stephen Sommers showed creative flair on the first two movies, Dracula Untold failed to spark interest.
With added pressure for bigger revenue and an over-eagerness to replicate Marvel with their own shared universe, Universal abandoned the Fraser-era movies to start afresh. Tom Cruise’s The Mummy was criticized for being a glum retread of earlier, better movies, but The Mummy 4 could have put a new spin on the franchise. Despite revealing his numerous bodily injuries and difficulty filming the third movie, Fraser has confirmed he would happily return as Rick O’Connell. This may just be wishful thinking, but it’s not too late for Universal to revisit their original winning formula.
