Michael Johnston, who drew widespread attention this year with the breakout horror hit Obsession, is in early talks to join the cast of The Mummy 4. If negotiations are finalised, the actor will share the screen with returning franchise stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
According to Variety, Johnston, best known for the television series Teen Wolf, emerged as one of Hollywood’s rising names after Obsession, directed by Curry Barker, became an unexpected box-office success despite its modest budget.
Academy Award winners Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz have already signed on to reprise their iconic roles as adventurer Rick O’Connell and Egyptologist Evelyn O’Connell. Universal Pictures has scheduled the film for a worldwide theatrical release on 15 October 2027.
The studio has kept plot details tightly under wraps. Fan-favourite actor John Hannah has also been confirmed to return to the franchise.
The original The Mummy followed a treasure hunter who accidentally awakened a cursed Egyptian priest with supernatural powers. The 1999 film and its 2001 sequel, The Mummy Returns, became major box-office successes, reviving Universal’s classic monster franchise and cementing Fraser’s status as a leading action star.
Weisz did not appear in the 2008 sequel The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, making her return one of the most anticipated aspects of the new instalment for long-time fans.
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking duo behind Ready or Not and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, will direct the film from a screenplay by David Coggeshall, whose previous credits include The Family Plan and Orphan: First Kill.
Sean Daniel, who has produced every entry in the franchise since the 1999 original, returns as producer. His previous work on the series includes The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and the 2017 The Mummy. The franchise has earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box office.
William Sherak, James Vanderbilt and Paul Neinstein will produce through Project X Entertainment. Their previous credits include Nuremberg, the Scream franchise and The Night Agent. Clayton Townsend also joins as a producer, while Brendan Fraser and Hivemind’s Jason F. Brown will serve as executive producers.
Universal Pictures declined to comment on Johnston’s reported involvement. The news was first reported by The Insneider.
