Despite getting mixed reviews at the time, The Mummy proved to be a decent (if unspectacular) hit when it was released back in 1999, and has remained a firm fan-favorite over the years.
Two direct sequels and a Scorpion King spin-off starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson weren't quite as successful, and Universal Pictures' more recent reboot starring Tom Cruise bombed to such a degree that it closed the tomb on the studio's Dark Universe franchise after a single movie.
Even so, rumors persist that another Mummy movie is in development. Previous reports have claimed that a new reboot or direct sequel to the '99 original might be in the works, but insider Daniel Richtman believes the project is actually going to be a prequel, and Wes Tooke (Midway, The Rescue) is on board to pen the script.
We don't have much more to go on for the time being, but a story set before the events of the first movie would, presumably, focus on the early life of the titular monster, Imhotep, and/or possibly Brendan Fraser's character Rick O'Connell.
A prequel would also mean that another actor would be cast as a younger Rick, which might not be the wisest move given the resurgence in popularity Fraser has experienced over the past couple of years.
When asked if he might be interested in reprising his most famous role in a 2023 interview, The Whale actor was all for it.
“I’m not opposed to it, I don’t know an actor who doesn’t want a job. I don’t think I’ve been this famous and unsalaried at the same time in my professional life so sign me up!”
We'll have to see if anything comes of this, but fans of the original will get the chance to catch it on the big screen again (or for the first time) when The Mummy returns to theaters for its 25th anniversary on July 5.
Empire has released a new poster and trailer to mark the occasion, which you can check out below.
"The Mummy is a rousing, suspenseful and horrifying epic about an expedition of treasure-seeking explorers in the Sahara Desert in 1925. Stumbling upon an ancient tomb, the hunters unwittingly set loose a 3,000-year-old legacy of terror, which is embodied in the vengeful reincarnation of an Egyptian priest who had been sentenced to an eternity as one of the living dead."
Were you a fan of The Mummy? How would you feel about a prequel? Drop us a comment down below.