New Brendan Fraser Look Sparks The Mummy 4 Excitement For Rick O’Connell Return

The Mummy 4 excitement is ramping up as Brendan Fraser debuts a new Rick O'Connell look.

Coming almost two decades after the release of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), the upcoming fourth installment in the franchise is set to get the original Mummy cast back together, with Fraser joined by Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Oded Fehr, and Kevin J. O'Connor. Earlier this year, Fraser revealed that he's been training hard to get back into shape to reprise his role as O'Connell.

Now, the result of Fraser's training is on display as the actor debuts a new look at the European premiere of his World War II thriller Pressure, in London, England. Fraser's transformation is generating buzz for O'Connell's anticipated return in The Mummy 4, with users sharing their excitement. Check out select reactions below:

CoveredGeekly shares an image of Fraser from 2021 next to the actor's look from the Pressure premiere, highlighting just how much progress he's made. "He's literally Rick O'Connell," the account writes in a follow-up post.

In a post in Portuguese, Cinema CLT shares a video of Fraser patiently showing fan how to set up his phone for the optimal selfie. Fraser's new look is on full display in the video.

In a response to CoveredGeekly, Sha Hartley writes that Fraser "looks good" and that he "just needs the Rick O'Connell hair, the outfit & he's good to go!"

"Seeing Brendan Fraser getting ready to play Rick O'Connell again just feels right," says Adam Tucker. "I don't need The Mummy to reinvent itself," Tucker continues, "Just give me Fraser, Rachel Weisz, ancient ruins and one more 'Goodbye Beni'."

MaxB writes that Fraser's training is "clearly WORKING." The user continues: "put the holsters on him, mess up the hair and that is literally Rick O’Connell again."

In a post translated from Spanish, Sergio Melero shares an especially heartfelt reaction to Fraser's new look: "He came back, he triumphed, and it's not that he's gearing up for the new Mummy movie, it's that HE'S HEALING and I'm crying with joy." Melero goes on to write that Fraser was "part of my youth" before highlighting the challenges the actor faced within Hollywood.

"I don't think y'all understand how excited I am gonna be for a new Mummy movie," writes MNBonnie.

The posts celebrating Fraser come amidst a broader comeback for the actor, who returned to the Hollywood scene in a big way with The Whale in 2022. After a number of years away from the spotlight, the Darren Aronofsky movie won Fraser an Oscar for Best Actor, and he's followed that film up with projects like Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), Rental Family (2025), and Pressure, all of which have been well-received.

Pressure reviews have been positive and the film has really struck a chord with audiences, with praise aimed at Fraser's portrayal of Dwight Eisenhower.

Speaking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in April, Fraser spoke about physical goals, saying: "I’m doing my best to get this 57-year-old gear in shape." The recent response on X suggests the actor's hard work is paying off.

The Fraser love is a promising sign for The Mummy 4, which hails from directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin. The new installment in the action adventure franchise was previously revealed to be going to camera in August, meaning Fraser may already have filmed scenes as O'Connell again.

Rick O'Connell holding binoculars while peering over the edge of a cliff MovieStillsDB

Brendan Fraser looking stunned in The Mummy Returns

Evelyn, Alex, Oconnell, and Jonathan trying to escape a collapsing tomb in the mummy returns

Brendan Fraser as Rick looking at the pilot in The Mummy Returns

Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell fighting Arnold Vosloo as Imhotep in The Mummy Returns

Close Rick O'Connell holding binoculars while peering over the edge of a cliff MovieStillsDB

Brendan Fraser looking stunned in The Mummy Returns

Evelyn, Alex, Oconnell, and Jonathan trying to escape a collapsing tomb in the mummy returns

Brendan Fraser as Rick looking at the pilot in The Mummy Returns

Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell fighting Arnold Vosloo as Imhotep in The Mummy Returns

Filming on The Mummy 4 now being underway would align with the movie's new release date of October 15, 2027. The film was previously expected to bow in 2028, but Universal Pictures moved the date earlier this year.

The upcoming fourth installment, which features a script by David Coggeshall, will follow the release of Lee Cronin's The Mummy this past April. That film marked a very different and more horror-oriented take on the franchise, earning mixed reviews but becoming a box office success.

Many questions still remain about The Mummy 4, but progress is evidently being made on the film behind the scenes. If filming is now underway, it may not be too long before an official look at Fraser's return as O'Connell is revealed.