A few weeks back I expressed some skepticism that Universal would re-cast Rachel Weisz‘s "Mummy" role with a new actress. Looks like I was wrong.
According to one very reliable source, it looks like Maria Bello will be stepping in to play the character made famous by Rachel Weisz: Evelyn O’Connell, wife to Rick O’Connell, as played by Brendan Fraser.
Universal and director Rob Cohen must be really in love with the screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Usually in a case like this they’d hire a new actress for a new role and explain Evie’s absence with some off-hand remark in the film’s opening scenes.
Nothing against Ms. Bello, of course, who was awesome in "A History of Violence," but it always feels a little weird when a new actor steps into an established character. Ah well, guess we’ll see how it all turns out. (You also know Ms. Bello from movies like "World Trade Center," "Assault on Precinct 13," and "Thank You for Smoking.")
Here’s an updated plot synopsis, by the way: "The film brings the O’Connells and their full-grown son (Luke Ford) to the forbidden tombs of China and the Himalayas, where they battle a shape-shifting mummy, a former Chinese emperor (Jet Li) cursed by a wizard (Michelle Yeoh). This second sequel will arrive in theaters next summer.
Source: Variety
