Michael Johnston, one of Hollywood’s fastest-rising young actors following the breakout success of this year’s horror hit Obsession, is in early talks to join the cast of Universal Pictures’ upcoming The Mummy sequel.

While Johnston‘s role remains under wraps, his addition would mark another significant step in a career that has gained considerable momentum over the past year. If negotiations are successful, he would join a cast led by Academy Award winners Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, who are officially returning to reprise their iconic roles in the beloved action-adventure franchise. Fan-favorite John Hannah has also been confirmed to return, reuniting much of the original cast nearly three decades after the franchise first debuted.

Johnston first gained recognition through his role in MTV’s supernatural drama Teen Wolf, but it was his performance in director Curry Barker’s independent horror film Obsession that brought him widespread attention. Produced on a modest budget, Obsession became one of the year’s biggest surprise theatrical successes, earning strong reviews and outperforming expectations at the global box office. The film’s commercial success helped establish Johnston as one of Hollywood’s emerging talents, with his performance attracting the attention of major studios looking for the next generation of leading actors.

A role in The Mummy franchise would represent Johnston’s highest-profile studio project to date. Although details about his character have not been revealed, joining one of Universal’s most recognizable franchises would significantly expand his presence in mainstream cinema following his horror breakthrough.

The new Mummy film marks a long-awaited return for the franchise’s original stars. Brendan Fraser will once again portray adventurer Rick O’Connell, while Rachel Weisz is set to reprise her role as Egyptologist Evelyn O’Connell. Weisz’s return is particularly notable, as she did not appear in 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, making this her first appearance in the series since The Mummy Returns in 2001.

John Hannah is also returning as Jonathan Carnahan, another fan-favorite character from the original trilogy. Universal has yet to reveal plot details, keeping the story firmly under wraps as production preparations continue.

The film will be directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking duo collectively known as Radio Silence. The directors are best known for Ready or Not, Scream (2022), Scream VI, and the upcoming Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. The screenplay has been written by David Coggeshall, whose previous credits include Orphan: First Kill and The Family Plan.

Behind the scenes, longtime franchise producer Sean Daniel returns after producing every Mummy installment since the 1999 original. He will be joined by William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein of Project X Entertainment, while Clayton Townsend also serves as producer. Brendan Fraser and Hivemind’s Jason F. Brown are executive producing the project.

The return of Fraser, Weisz and Hannah has generated significant excitement among longtime fans, particularly after the original The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001) became major global hits. Blending action, adventure, horror and comedy, the first two films helped redefine Universal’s classic monster properties for modern audiences and established Fraser as one of Hollywood’s leading action stars. Across its various installments, including spin-offs, the franchise has grossed more than $1.8 billion worldwide, making it one of Universal’s most successful long-running properties.

For Johnston, joining The Mummy would represent another major milestone in what has quickly become a breakout year. While negotiations remain in the early stages and no deal has yet been finalized, the actor’s rapid rise following Obsession has already positioned him among Hollywood’s most promising young performers. If the agreement is completed, Johnston will become part of one of cinema’s most enduring adventure franchises as it prepares for its biggest reunion yet.

The news was first reported by The Insneider and later confirmed by Variety, although the studio has declined to comment on the potential casting.

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