Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is expected to be the last film in which Harrison Ford will portray his iconic character, so it may be time to focus on someone from a similar mold: The Mummy‘s Rick O’Connell. An impressive 42 years after the 1981 release of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ford is hanging up his whip and fedora, leaving many wondering what will come next for the franchise. However, it may be a good idea to let Indy retire and allow Brendan Fraser to bring back his The Mummy character instead.
Brendan Fraser has stepped back into the spotlight to an enthusiastic reception, and it can only be assumed that audiences will see a lot more from the star in what has been called his “Brenaissance.” Since Brendan Fraser’s Rick O’Connell was among his most famous roles, it’s reasonable to hope that he might return to the screen in a fourth Mummy film. Fraser has said that he would be open to the idea (via Variety), and with Indiana Jones retiring, there’s an O’Connell can pick up the archeologist slash action hero mantle for the future.
The Mummy Already Made The Best Successor To Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones‘ titular character has held a special place in pop culture, and with the franchise coming to a likely close, that place will need to be filled. Indy was the very definition of the kind of action hero seen on screen in the early 1900s. He was always a blend of action and sarcastic wit that made him a lovable rogue. Additionally, his thorough knowledge of history and archeology allowed his personality to go deeper than that of a basic action star, so Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones was interesting to audiences. These qualities make Indy’s departure all the harder, but The Mummy has another similar hero ready-made.
The dashing Mr. O’Connell first appeared in The Mummy in 1999, and he was easy to love. Like Indiana Jones, Rick was a hero of the people. He brought exciting action, heartwarming romance, and fun comedy to the thrilling film, which was repeated in The Mummy Returns in 2001 and (perhaps to a lesser extent) in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in 2008. Rick O’Connell might not have gained the same notoriety as Indiana Jones, but there is no time like the present to change this and place the charming, sarcastic, and clever character in Indy’s place.
A Time Jump Will Echo The Indy Franchise
Of course, it’s been 14 years since Brendan Fraser last played Rick O’Connell in The Mummy‘s sequel movies, so he couldn’t just jump back in where the character left off. Instead, The Mummy would need to take a page from the Indiana Jones franchise and revisit the O’Connells 15 years or so after they were last seen. That would mean a new Mummy movie would be set in the 1950s, allowing the actors’ ages to reflect those of the characters.
While Indiana Jones proved that a time jump is doable, it also revealed several red flags that a Mummy 4 would need to avoid. Both Indiana Jones and The Mummy are filled with the kind of campy action that the 1990s were known for, but this can easily be taken too far. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull failed to wow with its CGI, and bringing in the sci-fi aliens to Indiana Jones proved a little too weird for most. The Mummy would be in just as much danger, but if it were done correctly, Rick O’Connel’s sequel could do what Indy 4 couldn’t.
If a new mummy were to be added to Brendan Fraser’s body count in a sequel, the villain would need to bring something unique to The Mummy franchise. By the 1950s, Rick could be a grandfather, and it might take just the right bad guy to make him set aside his potentially comfortable life to battle the undead again. Ultimately, nostalgia might be essential. If Dwayne Johnson returned as the Scorpion King, it could help the movie even more. Combined with the best CGI that the film can muster, this would secure The Mummy 4 as a success— and maybe even the new Indiana Jones.
