Rick O’Connell Is Back: First Look at Brendan Fraser on the Set of the New ‘Mummy’ Sequel Sends Fans Into a Frenzy

For more than 2 decades, fans have wondered whether Brendan Fraser would ever pick up where Rick O’Connell left off, and the long-awaited ‘The Mummy 4’ is finally making that dream a reality. The original 1999 film grossed $422.5 million worldwide and was followed by ‘The Mummy Returns’ in 2001 and ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ in 2008.

That third entry sent the O’Connells to China without Imhotep, and it recast Evelyn with Maria Bello because Rachel Weisz wasn’t available due to scheduling issues. Now, Universal is bringing the original duo back, with plans for the new sequel to ignore the third movie and follow directly from ‘The Mummy Returns’.

The wait for proof is officially over. Photos obtained by Page Six show Fraser, 57, filming scenes on Monday at a former military base in Suffolk, England, wearing a black leather jacket as he takes off a racing helmet.

The images have fans buzzing over a potential story surprise. One extra wears a white and red jacket reading “Rick O’Connell Racing” on the back, hinting that Rick may now run his own racing team, and Fraser was also photographed behind the wheel of a silver-and-red rocket-shaped car while extras looked on.

Fraser appeared to be having the time of his life, smiling widely as fellow actors cheered him on. TMZ noted that his stunt double seemed to handle most of the actual driving. The internet wasted no time celebrating. A fan account dedicated to Weisz shared the Page Six images, and the post quickly made the rounds on social media.

FIRST LOOK AT BRENDAN FRASER FILMING FOR THE MUMMY 4! https://t.co/utoYawlQD0

— The Dr. Rachel Weisz daily count bot (@kiana_weisz) September 28, 2026

Not every reaction was purely sentimental. One user joked that Fraser’s leather jacket and look reminded them of Leon S. Kennedy, a sign that fans are already having fun picking apart every frame.

Fraser’s first look arrived hot on the heels of Weisz’s own return. The actress was spotted filming a separate scene outside the British Museum in London, a moment expected to take place early in the film.

Brendan Fraser is all smiles in Suffolk, England, filming the opening scenes of the new Mummy movie. pic.twitter.com/whntZDM0Mc

— Thought Catalog (@ThoughtCatalog) September 28, 2026

She wore a brown cropped jacket over a burgundy shirt, near elbow-length gloves, a wide-brimmed hat and a bright yellow polka dot skirt while carrying a leather briefcase. It’s a fitting period look, since the first film was set in 1926 and the second jumped ahead to 1933.

The only thing missing now is a shot of the couple together again. Considering cameras are rolling, that moment could arrive at any time. The film is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the duo known as Radio Silence, with a script by ‘Orphan: First Kill’ writer David Coggeshall. The pair have already worked in Universal horror territory with 2024’s ‘Abigail’.

John Hannah returns as Evelyn’s brother Jonathan, and Oded Fehr and Kevin J. O’Connor are also back. Sean Daniel, who produced the original films, returns as producer alongside William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein through Project X Entertainment.

Production reportedly kicked off on September 7, after Fraser hinted at the Deauville American Film Festival that he was due back at work the following Monday. Universal has plenty of reason to bet big on this reunion. The Fraser-Weisz films have grossed more than $1.8 billion combined, making them the studio’s most successful take on the property so far.

This will be Universal’s first Fraser-led ‘Mummy’ in nearly 20 years, and it’s completely separate from ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’, which went in a much darker, R-rated horror direction. The new sequel is set to hit theaters on May 19, 2028. After years of reboots, spinoffs, and false starts, the sight of Fraser grinning in Rick O’Connell’s leather jacket feels like the franchise has truly come home.

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