Michael Johnston, the breakout star of Focus Features' horror hit Obsession, is in early talks to join the cast of Universal Pictures' The Mummy, Deadline confirmed on 27 July 2026. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter independently confirmed the negotiations on the same day. The talks were first reported by The InSneider.

The project brings back Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah — the central trio from Stephen Sommers' 1999 original and its 2001 sequel, The Mummy Returns. Sommers directed both films, each of which grossed over $400 million worldwide. This new installment is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking duo known as Radio Silence, from a screenplay by David Coggeshall.

Johnston has been a screen actor for nearly 15 years, but his role as "Bear" in Curry Barker's Obsession marked his big break. That film became Focus Features' top-grossing release of all time, earning over $458 million worldwide. Landing a role opposite Fraser and Weisz would be Johnston's highest-profile franchise assignment to date.

The producing team spans several banners. Sean Daniel, who produced the 1999 original, returns alongside William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein, and Clayton Townsend. Fraser himself serves as executive producer alongside Hivemind's Jason F. Brown — a credit that, in studio parlance, typically signals creative involvement above a standard producing role but below the producers who control financing and final cut.

Universal has dated the film for release on 15 October 2027. The studio had no comment on Johnston's potential casting.

For the franchise itself, the return of Fraser and Weisz closes a long loop. The pair last appeared together in The Mummy Returns twenty-five years ago. Universal's 2017 reboot, starring Tom Cruise, was a commercial departure from the original tone and did not spawn a sequel. This new film, by reuniting the original cast and handing the reins to Radio Silence, positions itself as a continuation rather than another restart — Universal's official website even lists the title as "The Mummy Franchise," signalling the studio's intent to treat it as part of the established series rather than a standalone.

No details about Johnston's character have been disclosed. With the film still more than a year from release, further casting announcements are likely in the months ahead.