Fraser in 'Mummy 3', Weisz Out!

Hmmm, this is an interesting development...

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Thursday, April 12th 2007 at 11:10 PM

Variety has dropped a double news nugget on the production of The Mummy 3 citing that star Brendan Fraser will indeed reprise his role as Rick O'Connell, but Rachel Weisz will not be returning as his wife Evelyn. The complication of having Weisz out has resulted in a rewrite from scribes Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, but the film is still on track to be made.

Rob Cohen is set to direct the feature and Jet Li is currently set to play the villain. There have also been rumors that Michelle Yeoh is on board as well as Alex Pettyfer. Pettyfer recently starred as Alex Rider in Stormbreaker and has been rumored for the role as the O'Connell's son, Alex, all grown up. However those last two bits are strictly rumor.

Word is that Universal is currently aiming at an end of summer production start providing the script is good to go. Apparently Weisz's absence is due to scheduling conflicts, which of course leads one to ask if you have waited six years why not wait seven? But what do I know? I am not a studio big wig.

The storyline of the third film is being kept under wraps, but it is known that the action is set in China, with Li's story beginning in ancient times before moving to a post-World War II setting. It is also known that one sequence involves the famous terra-cotta warriors, the collection of 6,000 men and their horses that were originally constructed to protect the tomb of an emperor.

A tentative release of July 18, 2008 is currently rumored.