ROTTEN TOMATOES: "Mummy 3" Casting Coup! Rachel Weisz Out, "Alex Rider" In

"Mummy 3" Casting Coup! Rachel Weisz Out, "Alex Rider" In

by Jen Yamato | April 12, 2007

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Rachel Weisz has pulled out of "The Mummy 3," reports say; but just as the sequel loses a mother, it looks like it's gaining a son -- and a strapping athletic teen super spy son, at that.

As reported by TMZ.com, Rachel Weisz will not be reprising her role as the stunning Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell in the upcoming second sequel to 1999's "The Mummy." Sources speculate a handful of reasons for Weisz' departure from the franchise, including her participation in as many as four other acting gigs, her recent Oscar win, and caring for her nine-month-old son (with "Fountain" director Darren Aronofsky.)

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Fraser, Weisz in "The Mummy Returns"

The initial report was later confirmed by Variety, who also reports that Weisz co-star Brendan Fraser inked his return for an undisclosed "top-of-the-food-chain money deal." Not bad for the guy who made "Monkeybone" only six years ago!

Also figuring into the production may be British teen actor Alex Pettyfer, who made his feature film debut in last year's "Stormbreaker." Pettyfer -- who just turned 17 years old - proved his action-adventure chops in that film as the teenage superspy Alex Rider.

If casting rumors prove true, Pettyfer may take on the role of Alex O'Connell, the son of Rick and Evy who we last saw as a young boy in 2001's "The Mummy Returns." Per IGN Movies, the character of Alex will be now in his late teens to early twenties and a younger version of his adventurer dad:

"The roguish Alex has been through nine schools in three years, plays poker and has gotten into trouble before with a headmaster's daughter. He is resourceful and wily, and is essentially Rick 2.0. Alex also mentions at one point that he digs up relics, so it can be assumed he is an archaeologist or treasure hunter of some sort."

Pettyfer in "Stormbreaker"

"Mummy 3" may also focus more on Alex, with Fraser's Rick serving as a secondary character. New director Rob Cohen ("xXx") is at the helm.

The script is being revised by screenwriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, but it's already got one bad guy. Jet Li is on board to play a mummy -- ostensibly that of the Chinese Qin Emperor, whose tomb is famously guarded by an 8,000 strong terra cotta army.

So when will we see this long-awaited sequel? Production should begin this summer, with Universal eyeing a summer 2008 release.

Sources: TMZ.com, Variety, IGN Movies

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Celeb:	Rachel Weisz
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Movie:	XXX
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	Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker
	The Mummy
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(1-19 of 19 posts) | Reply

Vitamin M writes:
on Apr 12 2007 06:51 AM

It might suck but it will make a bunch of money.
Just to clear that up.

(Reply to this)

blank blank writes:
on Apr 12 2007 06:53 AM

i dont know who is lamer the kid they cast or the director. rachel weisz was the only good thing about those movies. its going to bomb (maybe that will teach hollywood a lesson, but it probably wont.)

(Reply to this)

ChinaRises writes:
on Apr 12 2007 06:55 AM

[b]Thank You Rachel Weisz[/b]
Weisz is an actress who keeps getting better and better with each film she does, which is why she should stop doing these films fast. The first Mummy was awesome, but the sequel and the spin-off I wont even mention by name all sucked.

She needs to do more roles like she had "The Constant Gardner", "The Shape of Things", and "Confidence". She was also real good in the "Fountain", depite all those over done close-ups on her beautiful face(but that was the fault of Aaronovsky, who was too in love with her to properly direct her in the film)

(Reply to this)

Gimy writes:
on Apr 12 2007 08:33 AM

the chic has been griping since after the first one. they had to beg her just to do the second, so get over it. she's an aging actress and in 5 years won't be in the biz. i liked her in these movies but as long as they DO NOT have a kid in this one...it'll make 150 mill, easy, regardless of her. another chic who thinks she's way better than she actually is. Fraser is the only thing needed to make this series keep being successful. the sequel was STILL a hit and decent even though it had HORRIBLE cgi in the end(the scorpion king made me laugh) and an extremely annoying kid as a costar. this is doesn't mean squat to the franchise...

(Reply to this)

Prosper761 writes:
on Apr 12 2007 08:41 AM

In reply to this comment (#861134)
As long as there's an idea which can be wrung to the last drop; as long as there is a franchise which can be exploited to the bitter end; as long as there is a buck to be made, Hollywood will never learn a lesson. It's up to the movie-goers to stop paying to see lame sequels and even lamer remakes. When the box-office money dries up, maybe they will wise up. But until the gullible masses stop buying tickets to bad movies, we will be stuck with them.

(Reply to this)

ChinaRises writes:
on Apr 12 2007 09:08 AM

In reply to this comment (#861136)
""she's an aging actress and in 5 years won't be in the biz""

You sound like an idiot and a sexist one at that. Rachel Weisz will still be beautiful in 20 years and her ability as an actress will only get better. Thank G-d people like you had no infuence over actresses like Meryl Streep, Judy Dench, Ellen Burnstein, Mary-Luis Parker, Cate Blanchett, and many more, who may no longer have the same sex-appeal to star in dumb romantic roles aimed at idiotic teenage fanboys and girls, but they still have more style, presence, and ability to act than you will ever have of class.

(Reply to this)

Ashron writes:
on Apr 12 2007 09:51 AM

In reply to this comment (#861138)
Hear, hear. Well said.

(Reply to this)

blank blank writes:
on Apr 12 2007 10:59 AM

buuuuuuuuurn

(Reply to this)

JackHorner1979 writes:
on Apr 12 2007 11:16 AM

[b]GREAT![/b]
Now the Mummy is gonna suck! Uh, wait a sec....

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Apr 12 2007 02:00 PM

I liked the first two, I don't know how to feel about how this one's shaping up at all.

(Reply to this)

gemini0577 writes:
on Apr 12 2007 02:16 PM

In reply to this comment (#861138)
I totally agree with you. And yes, she was the saving grace of both Mummy films... and without her, the thrid film will suffer. Honestly, they shouldn't even be making it. The story ended with the conclusion of the second and I see only cheesey visions of reviving the story line. And Rachel Wiesz is an astounding actress and her pressense will be felt for more years to come.

(Reply to this)

WiseGuy writes:
on Apr 12 2007 03:03 PM

Who needs The Mummy 3 when we're getting the real deal with Indiana Jones 4 the very same summer?

(Reply to this)

Xhrix writes:
on Apr 12 2007 05:39 PM

The Mummy3 definetly won't be epic, but I enjoy watching Brendan Fraser enough in the role that I'm sure I'll see #3. Of course it will be campy, but sometimes I'm in a mood for a movie who doesn't try to take itself to seriously

(Reply to this)

TheAnswerMVP2001 writes:
on Apr 12 2007 11:46 PM

Well at least that kid looks a whole lot like the kid from the 2nd film, and as long as Frasier is coming back it shouldn't be too bad! But they better not make it campy by having the kid as the star... I'm just not very excited about this any more.

(Reply to this)

chen777 writes:
on Apr 13 2007 08:03 PM

In reply to this comment (#861144)
its just so funny cos you guys can predict the outcome of a movie just because one character is gone... maybe warner brothers should hire you guys then. Cant you even consider that maybe her role in the third movie is no longer the center of the story unlike the first two movies.

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bigbrother writes:
on Apr 14 2007 05:21 AM

I'm a big Rachel Weisz fan and think she's a fantastic actress, but I watched "I Want You" last night and along with that scene in "Enemy at the Gates" I've just gotta say she's been in two of the most uncomfortable sex scenes I've ever seen. Just found it weird that such a good actress and beautiful girl's sex scenes all come out making her seem like Corky from Life Goes On.

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starlett2005 writes:
on Apr 14 2007 08:42 PM

I enjoyed Rachel Weisz in the Mummy and the Mummy Returns. I was expecting that she would the Mummy 3.

(Reply to this)

NCloud writes:
on Jun 26 2007 10:07 AM

In reply to this comment (#861150)
[b]Rachel Weisz NOT in mummy 3!!??!![/b]
I love the mummy movies (i hated the scorpion king) i had hoped that there might be another mummy movie with ALL of the original cast. i don't think the movie will hardly be worth watching unless Weisz plays Evy and Boath plays Alex. I predict it doesn't make the theaters-Nathan Cloud

(Reply to this)

blindtaurus writes:
on Aug 29 2007 12:04 PM

I agree that Brendan makes the movies, but Rachel did play a big part and she should not
be replaced, just written out. I hate sequels but I loved 1 & 2. I am also excited to
see what Jet lei brings to the film, I am a fan of his. I might go to the movies
to see Mummy 3 but not Indiana Jones 4. Who could stand up to Harrison in his youth.
Most likely the box office will not get my money.

(Reply to this)