The Mummy
Summary
Actress Rachel Weisz did n’t rejoin to wager Evie , explorer Rick O’Connell ’s every bit capable wife , in 2008’sThe Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor , leaving buff to wonder why there was no Rachel WeiszMummy 3appearance . That absence came as a bountiful surprise at the fourth dimension , as playing Evie inThe MummyandThe Mummy Returnsis what launched Weisz ’s career into the Hollywood A - list . She ’s since gone on to win an Oscar , a Golden Globe , and a BAFTA for her work and become one of the most recognizable actress around .
It ’s not that Rachel Weisz had become averse to star in popcorn blockbusters : her career since leavingThe Mummyhas seen a healthy intermixture of mainstream projects and prestigiousness dramas . In 2021 , Weisz even join the Marvel Cinematic Universe inBlack Widowas Melina Vostakoff . Over the years , different stories have circulated about the Rachel WeiszMummy 3recast and the part of Evie was ultimately acquire over by Maria Bello .
The Mummy movies have a long - standing history in cinematic polish , success ranging from major hits to total duds throughout the year .
What The Mummy 3 Director Said About The Recast
One explanation(viaDigital Spy)for Rachel Weisz’sThe Mummy 3exit was give by the sequel ’s theater director , Rob Cohen . It was n’t very flattering , as Cohen suggested Weisz balked at the idea of playing a character with an adult son , asEvie and Rick ’s son in theMummyfranchisewas being get on up for the film . However , there have been several conflicting account about this , including from Rachel Weisz herself .
Evie and Rick O’Connell ’s Word , Alex , was also remodel . InThe Mummy Returns , Alex is a precocious eight - year - honest-to-goodness in 1933 , butThe Mummy 3jumps forward in time thirteen years to 1946 inThe Mummytimeline , making Alex twenty - one years former . Freddie Boath play Alex inThe Mummy Returns , but with there being only a seven - year opening in world between the movies , he was too young to repay . Alex was therefore recast , with the role going to Australian actor Luke Ford .
However , it ’s not been confirmed that disputes around this were responsible for Evie also being recast . It was also report at the metre ( viaCinema Blend ) that the understanding for Weisz ’s departure fromThe Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperorwas due to problem with the script . on the face of it , Weisz feel it did a ill service to the Evie type , make her not want to bring back to the role . Universal denied these reports at the prison term , and Weisz prefer neither to confirm nor refuse the title .
What Rachel Weisz Said About Not Returning For The Mummy 3
A representative of Rachel Weisz toldDigital Spythat she step off fromThe Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperoras she had a newborn son and did n’t need to be away from him for an lengthy period to shoot the next picture show inThe Mummyfranchise . However , she starred in two other cinema around the same time , which casts doubt on that theory . While it sometimes gets overlooked in hindsight , Weisz herself offered a more everyday explanation than any of the above reasons for her lack of involvement inThe Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor .
The U.K.-basedES Magazineinterviewed her in the Nov. 16 issue back in 2008 . In it , Weisz say that she had never even register the handwriting and that the scheduling of its production was what put her off the projection . Shooting the film would ’ve fee-tail spending five calendar month in China and required her to straightaway set about filming right after production wrapped on director Rian Johnson’sThe Brothers Bloom . Of all the potential explanations for her not to return , programing struggle would seem to be the most potential .
watch out The Mummy 3 on Apple TV
Was Maria Bello Good As Evie In The Mummy 3?
Rachel Weisz’sThe Mummy 3absence was painfully felt — but what about the actress who take her position ? Maria Bello played Evie inThe Mummy 3 , and the worker had a decent film career beforeThe Mummy 3 , appear in two or three movies per yr . Outside ofThe Mummyfranchise , Bello is well known for playing Lil Lovell inCoyote Ugly . She was also in themovie adaptation ofA chronicle of Violence , andThank You For Smoking .
Sadly for Bello , the role of Evie was something of a spiked chalice , as Weisz did such a good task putting her own stamp on the persona . Maria Bello probably would ’ve been comfortably get as Evie if she had played the part first . Bello did a fine job portraying the titular character and a talented actress in her own rightfulness , and she was just as good as Rachel Weisz inThe Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor . However , unluckily , citizenry had grown so attach to Weisz as the theatrical role from the first two installments , overshadowing Bello ’s operation .
Will Rachel Weisz Return In The Mummy 4?
If Rachel Weisz did n’t recall forThe Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperordue to concerns over its lineament , they proved prophetic , as the film have vituperative reviews upon discharge . While the criticism was divided equally onto all aspect of the film , a lot was targeted on the recasting of Evie , and fans bemoan Weisz ’s absence . While Maria Bello is an accomplished actress , the relationship and chemistry with lead star Brendan Fraser in this movie is a shadow of what Weisz brought to the part . According toBox Office Mojo , it was also the lowest - gross movie in the trilogy ( but still managed $ 400 million worldwide ) .
Universal Studios was consideringcontinuing the franchise withThe Mummy 4 . Tentatively titledThe Mummy : raise of the Aztec , the movie would have seen The O’Connell folk travel to South America to combat Antonio Banderas ’s villain . Luke Ford tell back in 2008(viaBloody Disgusting ) that he was sign on for three Mummy flick , potentially being groomed to become the new lead of the series to replace Fraser .
Maria Bello was also contracted to return as Evie , meaning Rachel Weisz would not have return forThe Mummy 4regardless . Universal at long last decide to cancel maturation onThe Mummy 4and boot the serial in an attempt at a shared monster universe . Tom Cruise’sThe Mummywas say to recoil off the Dark Universe . However , when it bombed in the summer of 2017 , the franchise once again procrastinate .
Why Now Is The Perfect Time For A Rachel Weisz The Mummy Return
The Mummy 4can still happen , peculiarly given that Brendan Fraser is enjoying something of a life history renaissance . The actor star in the cherished HBO seriesDoom Patrol , won an Academy Award for his role inThe Whale , and had a major role in Martin Scorsese’sKillers of the Flower Moon . to boot , Weisz congratulated Fraser on his Oscar win , so their friendship is clearly still there , and it ’s probable that their chemistry could be reignited onscreen straightaway .
There has n’t been any official watchword on the fourquel occurrence , but there ’s lots of buzz surrounding it following Fraser ’s newfound popularity , andWeisz’sMummy 4return relieve oneself perfect sense . Despite suffering numerous injuries fritter away theMummymovies , Brendan Fraser has confirmed he ’d happily return as Rick O’Connell ( viaGizmodo ) . When interviewed in 2023 , Fraser said on the depicted object
" I ’m not opposed to it . I do n’t screw an histrion who does n’t want a job … I do n’t think I ’ve been this famous and uncompensated at the same fourth dimension in my professional life , so ratify me up . ”
Rachel Weisz has n’t move over any comment , but it ’s been over 15 year since the release of 2008’sTomb of the Dragon Emperor . Were she unforced to pass for a fourth movie , the timing could n’t be honorable . Additionally , due to so much time overstep outside the narration itself , there ’s plenty of scope for a bracing look at Rick and Evie O’Connell later on in life . Having Brendan Fraser ’s Rick and Rachel Weisz ’s Evie a decennary honest-to-god and navigate the human beings in the quick aftermath of WW2 would make for interesting storytelling — but it would only be possible if Rachel Weisz would return as Evie .
What Rachel Weisz Has Done Since The Mummy Movies
Rachel Weisz’sThe Mummyrecasting did n’t go down well with masses who watched the third movie , but her reasoning behind not returning was reasoned . If she were to doThe Mummy 3 , she would ’ve had to expend five calendar month film in China , and she had recently wrapped up makingThe Brothers Bloom , a dramedy starring Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo . Prior to mold onThe Brothers Bloom , she starred in the Ryan Reynolds - run romcomDefinitely , Maybe , as Summer Hartley . This would signify she already wind up two movies in 2008 prior toThe Mummy 3 , so she was rightfully exhausted .
After her career took off , Rachel Weisz starred in Peter Jackson’sThe Lovely Bones , a twisting tale about a vernal girl who is kidnapped and murdered by their neighbor . She then went on to seem as Hester Collyer inThe Deep Blue Seaand Dr. Marta Shearing inThe Bourne Legacy . Weisz also star in the 2015 drama / sci - fi filmThe Lobsteralongside Colin Farrell . Most late , she played the character Melina in Scarlett Johansson’sBlack Widow .
The Rachel WeiszThe Mummyrecast has sparked an online postulation for the actress to return toThe Mummy 4 . People across the internet are demanding a legacy subsequence for the dealership and that the original crew restitution for one last ride . As of now , there are a small over 6,500 signature on the petition ( viaChange.org ) , showing that the failed Tom Cruise reboot was n’t enough to altogether tank the franchise . One lastThe Mummymovie would be welcomed with undefended subdivision by those with fond memories of the original – as long as Rachel Weisz and the original cast were to repay .
