Michael Johnston in talks to join Brendan Fraser’s Mummy sequel

Michael Johnston, the breakout star of horror hit “Obsession,” is in early talks to join Universal’s fourth “Mummy” film alongside Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed.

TL;DR

• Johnston is in “early talks” for the untitled fourth “Mummy” film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
• Fraser, Weisz and John Hannah are all set to reprise their original roles.
• Radio Silence directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are helming, with the film targeting an October 15, 2027 release.
• Universal has not commented on the casting talks.

Why this matters now

Johnston’s name is suddenly everywhere after “Obsession,” a low-budget Focus Features horror film, turned into one of the year’s biggest box-office surprises. Landing a role opposite Rachel Weisz in a legacy sequel would mark his first major studio franchise part and could confirm him as Hollywood’s next go-to leading man.

$458 million+ Global box office for “Obsession,” made on a $750,000 budget. Source: The Hollywood Reporter

$1.8 billion Combined worldwide gross of the “Mummy” franchise to date. Source: Variety

What we know about the deal

Johnston’s involvement is not yet finalised, and it remains unclear which role he is being considered for, according to KinoCheck. Universal declined to comment when approached by TheWrap.

The new film reunites Fraser as Rick O’Connell and Weisz as Evelyn Carnahan, with Hannah returning as Jonathan Carnahan, according to Variety. Fraser is also serving as an executive producer on the project.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the Radio Silence duo behind “Ready or Not” and “Scream,” are directing from a script by David Coggeshall. Longtime franchise producer Sean Daniel is back too, alongside Project X’s William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein.

A UK talent link to the franchise

The mandatory British angle here comes via Hannah himself: the Scottish actor, known to UK audiences from “Sliding Doors” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” is confirmed to reprise Jonathan Carnahan for the fourth instalment, giving the legacy sequel a homegrown thread alongside its Hollywood leads.

The bigger picture

The gap since “The Mummy Returns” means Rick and Evelyn’s now-adult son, Alex O’Connell, will need to be addressed in some form, an angle several outlets have flagged as a likely route for a newcomer such as Johnston to enter the story.

Reportedly, the production is expected to begin shooting later this year, though casting on Johnston’s part has not been finalised.

For more on Johnston’s breakout year, read our earlier coverage of how Obsession became Focus Features’ highest-grossing film of all time and the film’s record-breaking second-weekend box office surge. We’ve also previously covered Radio Silence’s other upcoming big-screen project.

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Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed July 28, 2026.