John Hannah Open to Mummy Sequel as New Horror Looms
John Hannah hints at a possible return to The Mummy franchise, while a fresh, unrelated Mummy horror film is set to shake things up this April. What’s next for the iconic adventure series?
Fans around the world are still holding out for word on another chapter in the Mummy saga, and now John Hannah has chimed in on the ongoing speculation. Known for playing the cheeky Jonathan Carnahan—Evelyn’s older brother—in the original films, Hannah recently shared his thoughts on the franchise’s future and his own willingness to get back in the saddle.
Speaking to RadioTimes, Hannah addressed the chatter about a follow-up to 2008’s Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which is rumoured to be helmed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
“Not officially. I mean, I've heard and seen the rumours, same as everybody else, and that would be fun to do. It would be fun to hook up with everybody again.”
He admitted, though, that he’s not sure how the writers would manage to bring Jonathan, Evelyn, and Rick together for another wild ride.
Original Cast Reunion on the Cards?
Hannah revealed that Brendan Fraser, who played Rick O’Connell, has been keen on the idea of reuniting the original crew.
“[Fraser] said that what they were looking to do was bring the original cast back together again. Certainly, in terms of Brendan and Rachel, bringing them back together, and Rachel was up for it, by all accounts. She was willing to do that, you know, having gone off and created her own path, and been very successful as a producer, as an actor, Oscar-nominated, you know.”
Reflecting on his own journey, Hannah admitted he was initially hesitant about joining the franchise.
“When I was first offered The Mummy, it was a bit like, 'I'm a serious actor, What do I want to go and do that kind of nonsense for?' But these are good family fun films, and if they've got a good... I mean, if they asked me to do it, I'll do it. Let's not be cute or anything. But we'll see what happens. I honestly have no more idea than you, from what I've read and stuff!”
After the Dark Universe Collapse
The collapse of the so-called Dark Universe—meant to link The Mummy with other classic monsters like The Invisible Man and Dracula—left the franchise in limbo. Brendan Fraser, now 57, has been vocal about wanting another go with his old mates, urging any future filmmakers to keep things light and fun, a quality he reckons was missing from Tom Cruise’s 2017 reboot.
New Mummy Film Unrelated to the Franchise
While punters might be hoping for a return of the original cast, there’s another Mummy film on the horizon, but it’s got nothing to do with Universal’s world. This April, Lee Cronin’s supernatural horror is set to hit screens, starring Laia Costa, Jack Reynor, and May Calamawy. Produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster—the same mob behind The Conjuring—this new take is a standalone story.
The plot follows a young girl who reappears eight years after vanishing, only for her father to discover she’s possessed by an ancient mummy’s spirit. The evil force soon targets his other child, forcing him to consider a grisly ritual to save his family. Whether this fresh spin will win over fans or end up buried remains to be seen.