‘90s kids and Brendan Fraser stans, rejoice! Universal Pictures has announced that 1999’s The Mummy is returning to theaters. The action/horror classic turns 25 this year and the studio has dropped a surprise reveal that the film will be re-released later this month in celebration of that milestone. They’ve even released a new teaser trailer to commemorate the occasion. Check it out.
In addition to the above trailer, we’ve also got a new poster for the forthcoming re-release, which you can check out below. Aside from Fraser, who has since become an Oscar winner for his work in The Whale, the film also stars Rachel Weisz, John Hannah and Arnold Vosloo. Stephen Sommers directed this now-beloved take on the classic monster, which was a huge hit in its day, taking in more than $416 million at the box office. For those who might need a little refresher, the official synopsis reads as follows:
“The Mummy follows the story of American adventurer Rick O’Connell (Fraser) as he leads an expedition to Hamunaptra, the legendary city of the dead. There, alongside Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan (Weisz) and her brother Jonathan (Hannah), he unwittingly awakens Imhotep (Vosloo), an ancient Egyptian priest cursed to suffer eternal damnation. Imhotep seeks to resurrect his lost love, and the team must race against time to stop him before he unleashes unspeakable horrors on the world.”
This wasn’t just a one-off success as Universal turned it into a very successful franchise. Two sequels followed in the form of The Mummy Returns and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. There was also the successful spin-off The Scorpion King, which helped launch Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s career as a movie star. That spin-off also, it’s worth noting, generated a whopping four direct-to-video sequels. It only seems fitting that Universal gives this movie the celebration it deserves. Jim Orr, president of domestic theatrical distribution for Universal Pictures, had this to say about it:
“Over the past twenty-five years, The Mummy has become a cornerstone of adventure cinema and has set the bar high for blockbuster entertainment. As we celebrate its 25th anniversary, we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring it back to the big screen. It’s a fantastic opportunity for both devoted fans and newcomers to immerse themselves in the exhilarating adventure and timeless story that made The Mummy an unforgettable cinematic experience.
The Mummy returns to theaters on April 26. Advance tickets are on sale now.