AceShowbiz - The upcoming The Mummy 4 is officially disregarding the events of the 2008 sequel, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which received poor reviews and featured a significant cast change. The original film, released in 1999, introduced audiences to Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell and Rachel Weisz as Evelyn. Both actors reprised their roles in the 2001 follow-up, The Mummy Returns. However, the 2008 sequel replaced Weisz with Maria Bello while Fraser remained in his role.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet, who form part of the filmmaking team Radio Silence, confirmed that their new installment would not treat the critically panned third film as part of the official story. Bettinelli-Olpin emphasized, "Well, Rachel is in this one," to which Gillet added, "That should answer the question for you."

The filmmakers remain tight-lipped about many details of the fourth film but praised the script, written by David Coggeshall, for its strong characterization and emotional depth. Bettinelli-Olpin stated, "I don't think 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."

Directed by Stephen Sommers, the first two The Mummy movies were well-received by audiences for their adventurous spirit and the chemistry between Fraser and Weisz. While the second film garnered mixed critical reviews, both films were praised for their engaging storytelling and charismatic leads battling supernatural threats.

The third film, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, directed by Rob Cohen, shifted the setting from Egypt to China and introduced Rick and Evelyn’s son, Alexander, played by Luke Ford. Despite achieving commercial success, the film underperformed compared to its predecessors and holds a low 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

With the confirmation that the 2008 sequel will be ignored, it is unlikely that Ford will reprise his role in The Mummy 4. This also opens the possibility that the new film will alter or omit the existence of Rick and Evelyn's children altogether. Additionally, actors such as Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, and Liam Cunningham, all part of the third film, are expected to be absent from the upcoming installment.

Aside from Fraser and Weisz, no other cast members have been officially announced for the fourth film. However, past franchise actors John Hannah and Oded Fehr, who portrayed Jonathan and Ardeth Bay respectively, have expressed interest in returning.

Before the release of this highly anticipated sequel, Blumhouse is planning a reboot of the franchise with Lee Cronin's new film titled The Mummy, scheduled for release on April 17. Fans will soon have two distinct takes on the franchise to experience.

With the script for The Mummy 4 completed and approved by both Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, and a release date set for May 19, 2028, more information about the cast and storyline is expected to be revealed in the near future. The directors’ decision to exclude Tomb of the Dragon Emperor from the official canon means audiences do not need to revisit the third film to follow the new story.

As the franchise prepares for this fresh chapter, it returns focus to the original characters and dynamics that made the first two films successful. Fans of The Mummy can look forward to a new adventure that promises to bring back the beloved heroes while leaving behind the less well-received elements of the series' past.