‘The Mummy 4’ may see a familiar face return as villain and his casting makes total sense
After years of false starts, rumors that went nowhere, and fans flat-out begging for answers, Universal has finally moved forward with a fourth 'Mummy' movie. Brendan Fraser is reportedly set to return as Rick O'Connell. And now, there's fresh chatter that another familiar face from the early 2000s may be circling the project, too. According to a new rumor making the rounds, Universal is interested in bringing Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson back to reprise his role as the Scorpion King. The information comes from scooper Daniel Richtman, who claims the studio "wants him in the next 'Mummy' movie for at least a cameo."
How big that part would be—a small scene or something more—is still very much up in the air. The timing of the rumor is interesting, especially since Johnson himself recently spoke about the possibility of returning to the franchise. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he said he's "always open" to the idea. Johnson described 'The Mummy' as "Brendan Fraser's franchise." He said he'd "certainly consider" returning if the call came, noting that his original casting as the Scorpion King "changed his life" in a big way.
Back in 2001, Johnson appeared as Mathayus, better known as the Scorpion King, in 'The Mummy Returns'. His character served as the main villain, rising from myth into flesh with an army behind him and destruction on his mind. Universal clearly saw potential. A year later, Johnson headlined 'The Scorpion King', a solo spin-off set roughly 5,000 years before the events of 'The Mummy'. That film explored Mathayus' rise to power and helped launch Johnson into full-time movie stardom. The rest, as they say, turned into a very busy career.
Now, Universal is reportedly developing a new 'Mummy' sequel that would continue the story that began with 2001's 'The Mummy'. Fraser is expected to return as Rick O'Connell, and Rachel Weisz is also rumored to be coming back as Evelyn O'Connell. As of now, the project doesn't have a production start date or a release window. Everything is still early. From a story standpoint, the Scorpion King's return might sound tricky, but this franchise has never been shy about bending the rules of death.
In 'The Mummy Returns', Rick O'Connell defeats Mathayus by stabbing him with a spear, causing the Scorpion King and his army to crumble into dust. End of story. Or so it seemed, but this is a world where Imhotep was brought back after being defeated once already, as per The Direct. Finding a way to bring Mathayus back would not exactly break tradition. Because the film is still so early in development, Universal hasn't confirmed any casting details publicly, and that includes Johnson's involvement. For now, everything remains just a possibility that fans hope will come true.
