Michael Johnston, who broke through to mainstream audiences this year with the Focus Features horror film Obsession, is in early talks to join the cast of The Mummy, the next installment of Universal Pictures' long-running monster franchise, according to reports from both Deadline and Variety.
Johnston would appear alongside returning stars Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah, should his deal close. No details about his character have been released. Representatives for Universal Pictures had no comment on the casting.
For Fraser and Weisz, the film marks a significant return. The original 1999 film and its 2001 sequel The Mummy Returns were major box office hits, each topping $400 million worldwide, and helped establish Fraser as one of Hollywood's biggest action stars of that era. The franchise has grossed $1.8 billion in total across its installments. Weisz did not appear in the 2008 threequel The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, making her return to the series notable for fans of the originals. Fraser and Weisz will reprise their roles as adventurer Rick O'Connell and Egyptologist Evelyn O'Connell. Plot details are being kept under wraps.
Directing duties fall to Radio Silence's Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the team behind Ready or Not and its sequel. The screenplay was written by David Coggeshall, whose previous credits include The Family Plan and Orphan: First Kill. Franchise veteran Sean Daniel, who has produced every installment since the 1999 original, is back as producer. William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein of Project X Entertainment will also produce, alongside Clayton Townsend. Fraser and Hivemind's Jason F. Brown will serve as executive producers.
Johnston's path to this role runs through Obsession, the low-budget Curry Barker horror film that became a surprise phenomenon. The film is now Focus Features' top-grossing release of all time, earning more than $458 million worldwide. Johnston plays Bear, a young man whose life is upended by the One Wish Willow. The role represents a major turning point in his career, coming nearly 15 years into his work as a screen actor. He previously appeared in the TV series Teen Wolf.
The Mummy is scheduled for a wide theatrical release on October 15, 2027.
