John Hannah has a message for skeptics of The Mummy 4: don't bury it before it's even been resurrected. The 64-year-old Scottish actor, who reprises his role as Jonathan Carnahan in the upcoming sequel, insists the script is genuinely good and not just a cash grab.
Speaking to Metro ahead of the film's release, Hannah revealed he was under strict instructions from Universal Pictures about what he could and couldn't say. 'I got an email telling me what I couldn't say, which is kind of a shame,' he admitted, as the studio aims to keep plot details under wraps.
A Return to the Original Formula
The 2027 installment will reunite the core cast from the beloved 1999 original, including Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell and Rachel Weisz as Evelyn Carnahan. Hannah, who plays Evelyn's bumbling, money-obsessed brother Jonathan, confirmed the sequel will return to the tone and setting of the first film.
'It's an age-appropriate sequel, kind of to the first Mummy film,' Hannah said, referencing the 1920s-set adventure where Rick and Evy first met and fell in love while battling a reanimated mummy. 'So that's the cast they put together: Rachel, Brendan, myself. They've kind of gone back to the first one.'
New additions to the cast include Kevin J. O'Connor, who played the cowardly Beni in the original, and Oded Fehr, who portrayed Ardeth Bay, the Medjai chieftain. Michael Johnston, star of this summer's hit Obsession, is also on board, though his role remains a mystery.
Addressing the Skeptics
After the mixed reception to 2008's The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which recast Weisz's character and shifted the action to China, Hannah understands why fans might be cautious. But he's quick to defend the new project.
'It would be very easy to be cynical about this and go, all right, they're making it because there's an audience there and they can make some money and blah blah blah,' he said. 'But the script is really good. It's really funny and loads of s*** happens.'
Hannah also joked about his character's lack of development over the years. 'Unfortunately, my character hasn't really evolved in any way,' he laughed, suggesting Jonathan remains the same scheming brother fans remember.
What to Expect
While the plot is under tight wraps, Hannah has read the script and promises a satisfying continuation. He confirmed that the film will bring back the dynamic that made the original a classic, with the core trio of Fraser, Weisz, and Hannah at the forefront.
It remains unclear whether Arnold Vosloo (Imhotep) and Patricia Velásquez (Anck-es-en-Amon) will return, but fans are already speculating. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on October 15, 2027.
As anticipation builds, Hannah's endorsement may help quell doubts. 'It's going to be good,' he assured fans, signaling that this sequel aims to honor the franchise's legacy rather than merely exploit it.
