Rachel Weisz has been photographed back in costume as Evelyn O’Connell on the London set of the fourth Mummy film, her first appearance in the role since 2001’s The Mummy Returns.
The Daily Mail published shots of Weisz, 56, outside the British Museum in a brown cropped jacket, burgundy shirt, yellow polka-dot skirt, long dark gloves and wide-brimmed hat, with a leather briefcase in hand. Reports place the scene early in the film.
The wardrobe evokes the 1920s or 1930s without fixing a year. The original film takes place in 1926 and the sequel in 1933, and the production has not said when the new story is set. It is expected to pick up from The Mummy Returns and ignore the events of 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett indicated in March that the third film is not canon.
First set pics of The Mummy 4 with Rachel Weisz's Evelyn O’Connell
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Weisz skipped that installment because of scheduling conflicts, and Maria Bello took over the part in a story set in 1946 China. The film drew a lukewarm reception. ComicBook.com noted that Bello’s costumes, which favored a tougher look, moved away from the period dresses that defined Weisz’s version of the character.
Weisz joins a returning group. Brendan Fraser, back as adventurer Rick O’Connell for the first time in 18 years, was spotted on set earlier this month in full costume. John Hannah returns as Evelyn’s brother Jonathan, Arnold Vosloo as the resurrected priest Imhotep and Oded Fehr as Medjai warrior Ardeth Bay, who shared a glimpse of his makeup chair. Fraser, 57, suffered a torn spinal disc, a cracked rib and other injuries on the earlier films, which led to multiple surgeries and a long career break. He has said he will lean on stunt performers this time.
Fan reaction to the photos has been warm, with praise focused on the period costume and the prospect of Weisz and Fraser sharing the screen again. Their chemistry anchored the first two films, which followed a librarian turned Egyptologist and a former Legionnaire through Egyptian curses and ancient armies.
The franchise has been quiet on screen for years. Universal’s 2017 Mummy reboot with Tom Cruise failed to catch on, and this project revives the original tone and cast rather than starting over.
