Lee Cronin’s ‘The Mummy’ Does Not Star Brendan Fraser, Who Stars In the Movie ‘The Mummy’
What's in a name?
There is a brand-new movie titled “The Mummy” hitting cinemas on April 17, but you should know that it does not feature Brendan Fraser. It is easy to see why so many people are currently mixed up, especially since there has been so much buzz surrounding the actual return of Fraser to the franchise that made him a global superstar.
The new film, officially titled Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, is taking a very different approach compared to the action-adventure romps you might remember from the late 90s and early 2000s. Instead of the treasure hunting and lighthearted, Indiana Jones-style spirit that defined the original trilogy, this version is leaning heavily into body horror and supernatural possession.
The story centers on a young girl who goes missing in modern-day Egypt, only to be discovered years later among other bodies trapped in ancient sarcophagi. It is a darker, more terrifying take on the concept, starring Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, and Natalie Grace.
There is a very valid reason for all the confusion
The news landscape has been flooded with reports about a separate, untitled Mummy project that actually does involve the original team. Back in November 2025, reports confirmed that Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are set to reunite for a new sequel. That project is being handled by the filmmaking duo known as Radio Silence, which includes Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
That specific film is currently slated for a 2028 release, and it is intended to act as a direct follow-up, even reportedly disregarding the events of the 2008 film, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. To make matters even more exciting for fans, it was confirmed just last month that John Hannah will be reprising his role as the fan-favorite character Jonathan Carnahan in that upcoming 2028 movie.
Because the titles are so similar, the studio behind Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, Blumhouse, has been working overtime to set the record straight. They have been posting a daily reminder on their X account since April 2, explicitly stating that Brendan Fraser is not in the film. Despite these constant updates, many fans are still in denial.
Some users have jokingly suggested that the announcement is just reverse psychology, while others are holding out hope for a surprise post-credit appearance. The situation has reached a point where some social media users are expressing genuine frustration with the constant need to explain that these are two entirely separate projects from different studios.
The marketing team of the new film has clearly faced an uphill battle
Reports indicate that there were significant issues during test screenings where audiences walked into the theater expecting the same tone as the original Fraser films. One industry insider even noted that the confusion was so prevalent that the studio considered renaming the movie ‘The Resurrected’ back in late 2025 to avoid these exact expectations. It is a classic case of shared naming conventions leading to a massive headache for everyone involved.
It is worth remembering that this is not the first time the franchise has navigated a tricky reboot. Back in 2017, a version starring Tom Cruise attempted to kickstart a shared cinematic universe called The Dark Universe, which was meant to feature other classic monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein. That film did not quite land with audiences or critics in the way the studio hoped.
Brendan Fraser himself once commented on that 2017 project, noting that the key ingredient missing from that version was the simple sense of fun that made his original films so memorable. If you are a fan of the original 1999 classic and its sequels, it is a great time to revisit them. Just make sure that when you buy your ticket for the new movie on April 17, you are going in with the right expectations because Brendan Fraser won’t be there!
You are getting a fresh, spooky, and modern horror experience from director Lee Cronin, not the return of Rick O’Connell. It is a totally different vibe, and while it might not feature the faces you are used to seeing in this specific franchise, it is definitely a project that is aiming to terrify audiences in a brand-new way.
(featured image: Montclair Film)
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