The Mummy sequel eyes Obsession’s Michael Johnston to join Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz

Things are moving on Universal's big monster sandbox: Michael Johnston—the bloke most of us watched running around love-stricken in Obsession—is apparently now in early talks to pop up in the next Mummy film alongside the old guard, Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. It's the kind of casting conversation that gets a splashy mention in the trades, but officially, Universal is saying precisely nothing about it. Still, not much of a leap for Johnston—Obsession was a Focus Features job, and Focus sits nicely under the Universal umbrella, so he's just moving cubicles as it were.

Obsession became the highest-grossing film with a budget under a million dollars.

Just in case you missed that bit: Obsession wasn't just a low-budget success, it was an absolute monster. Johnston, lead Inde Navarrette, and writer-director Curry Barker turned into headline acts overnight because it raked in box office numbers normally reserved for things with far bigger cheques attached.

The Mummy Returns, Again

Let's talk about the new film itself. The directing duties on The Mummy 4 have landed with Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett—you'd know them from Ready or Not 2. Cameras are meant to roll this autumn, in London and Morocco. Don't ask for proper plot details just yet, though: the script's being kept firmly under wraps—at least outside of the people actually being paid to read it.

The directing pair have chucked out typical movie hype, claiming the new one will be 'really, really beautiful and scary and sweeping, and it's awesome.' Bettinelli-Olpin also made the not-so-subtle point that Fraser and Weisz wouldn't show up if the script was a dog, saying,

Bettinelli-Olpin said: "Brendan and Rachel are getting involved unless they love that script, and what they read, I think they really liked. And it's a good script. It's gonna be fun to make."

There's more nostalgia piling on as John Hannah is also set to return, so the original trio's being put back together. Long-time fans will remember: after The Mummy Returns cashed in, that cast didn't reunite for another eight years. And by that point, Maria Bello had taken over the Evelyn role from Weisz in Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which went down like a cold cup of tea. The new directors aren't exactly treating that one as gospel. Bettinelli-Olpin gently dodged the issue of whether it counts as canon to their film, simply pointing out: 'Rachel is in this one. That should answer the question for you.'

As for when you're actually going to be able to see all this ancient Egyptian chaos on the big screen, clear the diary for 19 May 2028—that's the date pencilled in.

• Michael Johnston (Obsession) in talks to join Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah in The Mummy 4
• Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not 2) directing
• Shooting in London and Morocco fall 2026; Universal yet to comment on Johnston
• Fraser and Weisz only returning because they loved the script
• Not treating the third Mummy film as proper canon—because Rachel Weisz is back
• Set for release: 19 May 2028