John Hannah Breaks Silence on Possible 'The Mummy' Sequel With Fraser
John Hannah, beloved for his role in The Mummy series, has addressed sequel rumors and shared his openness to rejoin the cast. Meanwhile, a new, unrelated Mummy horror film is set to hit theaters this April.
Fans around the world are still holding out hope for another adventure in the universe of ancient curses and desert tombs. Now, John Hannah—who played the quick-witted Jonathan Carnahan, brother to Rachel Weisz’s Evelyn—has finally spoken up about the swirling rumors of a new installment. In a recent interview, Hannah discussed the possibility of returning to the franchise, which Brendan Fraser has also expressed interest in reviving.
When asked if he’d heard anything official about a follow-up to 2008’s Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, rumored to be helmed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Hannah replied,
“Not officially. I mean, I've heard and seen the rumors, 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 realistically bring Jonathan, Evelyn, and Rick back together for another round of supernatural chaos.
Original Cast Reunion Hopes
Hannah went on to share what he’s heard about the project’s direction, saying,
“[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.”
He reflected on his initial hesitation to join the franchise, recalling,
“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!”
Franchise Future and the Dark Universe Fallout
After the collapse of the so-called Dark Universe—a planned shared world for classic monsters like The Mummy, The Invisible Man, and Dracula—Brendan Fraser has been vocal about his desire to reunite with his former co-stars. The actor, now 57, has urged any future filmmakers to focus on the fun and adventure that made the original movies so beloved, a quality he felt was missing from Tom Cruise ’s 2017 reboot.
New Mummy Horror Arrives This April
While speculation about a new sequel continues, a completely separate Mummy film is set to debut this April. Directed by Lee Cronin, this supernatural horror stars Laia Costa, Jack Reynor, and May Calamawy. Unlike the Universal Pictures franchise, this new take comes from Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster, the creative minds behind The Conjuring series.
The story centers on a young girl who reappears eight years after vanishing, only for her father to discover she’s possessed by the spirit of an ancient mummy. As the evil force threatens his other child, he must confront the unthinkable and perform a terrifying ritual to save his family. Whether this new vision will capture audiences or fade into obscurity remains to be seen.