Brendan Fraser Thinks Tom Cruise’s ‘Mummy’ Reboot Failed Because It Wasn’t “Fun”

When you think about Brendan Fraser’s greatest film moments, almost all of them will be from some point in the ‘90s. That was just prime Fraser-ness. For some people, those highlights come partially from his ‘Mummy’ franchise films, which saw the first debut in 1999. Though the drop-off in quality was significant from film to film in the trilogy, there are still those who are diehard fans. And if you’re one of those people, you are in luck because apparently, Fraser is willing to return to “The Mummy” in the future.

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In a new interview with Variety, Brendan Fraser talked about what it would take for him to return to “The Mummy” franchise, and honestly, it only will take a good idea. So, it doesn’t sound like it’s all that much of an impossibility.  

“I don’t know how it would work,” said Fraser. “But I’d be open to it if someone came up with the right conceit.”

Of course, since Fraser’s version of “The Mummy” franchise ended with the third film in 2008, Universal has gone back to the well to try to get a more modern take on the franchise going. That result, the Tom Cruise-led ‘Mummy,’ was a huge bomb. And Fraser thinks he knows why Cruise’s attempt failed. 

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“It is hard to make that movie,” Fraser explained. “The ingredient that we had going for our ‘Mummy,’ which I didn’t see in that film, was fun. That was what was lacking in that incarnation. It was too much of a straight-ahead horror movie. ‘The Mummy’ should be a thrill ride, but not terrifying and scary.”  

He added, “I know how difficult it is to pull it off. I tried to do it three times.”

While you can’t see Fraser in a new ‘Mummy’ film anytime soon, you can watch his potentially Oscar-worthy performance in “The Whale,” when it arrives in theaters on December 9.