Andrew

Posted Tuesday, May 9, 2023

11mo

INFJ

Leo

Working Script for a Fourth Mummy Movie

The Universal Studios Monsters Cinematic Universe, or UMCU was a planned series of interconnected movies featuring the iconic monsters in cinema history. Sadly it never really took off and Tom Cruise’s The Mummy was a monetary and artistic failure. I would go so far as to say that Netflix’s Dracula was also a failure because it had something special between the two main characters but opted to fast forward to the modern day which ruined the show’s potential. Therefore, I’d like to present a working concept for a new attempt at building the UMCU, starting with the fourth installment of the Mummy Franchise, starring Brenden Fraser. The plot of this film would be a continuation of the previous Mummy films with Fraser reprising his role as Rick O'Connell and Rachel Weisz as Evelin O'Connell. They had real chemistry together that was wasted when she was recast in the disastrous third film. The O'Connell family have retired to a peaceful life in the English countryside but the simple life proves to be too much for Rick to handle despite his wife’s best attempts to “domesticate” him as he jokingly explains to Johnathon, Evelyne's brother during a night out on the town. These nightly incursions eventually land Rick and John in jail but before Evelyn can bail them out the two are approached by a wealthy collector who offers Rick’s family a job. The mysterious but outward friendly young man offers to pay their debts in exchange for the retrieval of a priceless artifact of great historic importance to him. He has heard of O'Connell's deeds (thanks to his wife’s novels) and believes them to be at least based on real events. While Jonathan is intrigued, he is surprised that Rick agreed just as quickly. He explains that his marriage is failing and that one last adventure might rekindle what they had before. Rick and John plan at first to tell Evelyn that they are visiting the British Royal Museum to meet with an archaeologist named Abigail Williams in order to authenticate something. “Maybe sign a few books” they joke. Abigail Williams is one of three new characters that will join Rick & Evelyn’s group in search of the artifact. These new characters have ties to some of the most iconic movie monsters. The connection she has is with Dr. Frankenstein, her great grandfather. She is both horrified and inspired by the tales of reanimation of Imhotep and what her deranged father had tried to accomplish. She claims to want to use this knowledge to help the living, not the dead. Shortly after the artifact has been authenticated the museum is attacked by mercenaries and Rick, Evelyn, John and Abigail are rescued by none other than Ardeth Bay who makes an explosive entrance, allowing everyone to escape with the artifact. The presence of Ardeth means that someone wishes to revive Imhotep and plans to use the artifact to do so. While Rick and Ardeth start to strategize, Evelyn argues that Rick somehow orchestrated and it’s revealed that John spilled the beans. She is angry with him that since their son is gone he’s all she has left and is afraid of losing him. There is plenty more on the way but I would like to know what people’s thoughts on it so far. I believe keeping the story based in the past (period piece?) and with likable characters with good chemistry is key to breathing new life into a franchise with a lot of promise.