Brendan Fraser surprised the movie world recently by agreeing to return for The Mummy 4, despite a long break from the franchise and Universal’s failed attempt at a modernized reboot within the last decade. However, the decision to add to the Fraser-era Mummy movies could come with an unexpected side effect, as the canon already extends far beyond the series’ most famous and revered installments. It could also be argued that Fraser’s comeback has been a long time coming.
The Mummy franchise dates back further than many fans may know. The original movie was released in 1932, so the Fraser-era remake and its sequels aren’t entirely groundbreaking. That said, they are the most beloved iteration of the story. 2017 brought a Tom Cruise movie that was the third in the franchise to bear the title The Mummy, and it was intended to be the start of a new cinematic series known as the Dark Universe. When it flopped at the box office, Universal abandoned its ambitious crossover plans, and the franchise has been inert ever since. That is, until now.
‘The Mummy 4’ Could Be the Catalyst for Another ‘Scorpion King’ Movie
Although the 2017 Tom Cruise movie failed to kick-start a family-friendly horror franchise, the Brendan Fraser era succeeded in doing so. When Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s acting career was still in its early stages, he appeared as the Scorpion King in 2001’s The Mummy Returns, which served as a direct sequel to the first Brendan Fraser movie in the series. In 2002, a movie named after Johnson’s Mummy character premiered. The Scorpion King, although released after The Mummy Returns, is a distant prequel to the core series and was the first movie starring Dwayne Johnson. Before that, he had only minor roles in shows like That ’70s Show and Star Trek: Voyager.
The Scorpion King provided a backstory for Johnson’s Mummy character, but the movie itself has since fallen into obscurity due to its poor reception from fans and critics alike. Still, it can’t be denied that the movie is part of the larger canon of Fraser’s era. Four more Scorpion King movies have since been made, but none have been particularly prolific, and none have brought Dwayne Johnson back to reprise his role. The sequels also have several inconsistencies that strongly suggest they aren’t canonical continuations of the 2002 effort. As such, it’s unlikely they belong to the same timeline.
In November 2020, a Scorpion King reboot was announced as in development as a joint venture between Universal and Dwayne Johnson’s production company, Seven Bucks Productions. While there have been several small updates since said announcement, there has been very little movement on the project overall. Johnson has not been expected to reprise his role, but is instead attached as a producer as he attempts to update the sub-franchise and bring it into the modern era.
Now that The Mummy 4 has been announced with the return of both Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, it would be a pretty cool and logical development if Johnson’s Scorpion King plans changed course a little. While Johnson’s franchise character was defeated within the world of the saga, some clever writing could easily restore him to the role. Drawing on the canon established by 2002’s The Scorpion King, another appearance by Johnson could be a major draw, especially given his far higher profile today than in the early 2000s.
Universal Might Play It Safe by Only Reviving Fraser’s ‘The Mummy’ Movies
The Mummy 4 is yet another example of Hollywood’s ongoing trend of monetizing nostalgia. The three movies that preceded it were a large part of many people’s childhoods, so a significant portion of the viewership will likely be made up of existing fans. This is a tried-and-tested formula, as evidenced by the financial success of other legacy sequels like Toy Story 3 and 4. However, the harsh truth is that the Scorpion King was only a small part of The Mummy‘s larger storyline, and there is already significant evidence that the character has very little appeal when separated from the core of the franchise.
While it’s true that Johnson’s presence in the cast of a Scorpion King reboot could boost interest, movies like 2022’s Black Adam prove that the WWE star’s involvement doesn’t guarantee success, even when a movie is part of an established franchise. Besides, while an on-screen rematch between Brendan Fraser’s and The Rock’s respective Mummy characters might be cool given the right circumstances, Johnson’s reported “no-lose” clause could make it difficult to orchestrate a compelling battle sequence.
If the Scorpion King contractually can’t lose a fight on-screen, then there’s less on the line, and Fraser equally can’t be framed as the loser due to being the face of the franchise. The only other real possibility is another Scorpion King prequel, which has already been done and proven not to be a viable plan. So, unless a suitable approach can be decided upon for Johnson’s desired reboot to take place alongside The Mummy 4, the safest bet would probably be to abandon another Scorpion King movie and move forward only with a project that showcases Fraser and Weisz.
