The Mummy 4's Biggest Villain Theory Is Basically Confirmed After Major Update

The latest update on The Mummy 4 has all but confirmed the biggest villain fan theory. Universal Pictures has finally revealed the long-awaited sequel’s official title, and its connection to the original adventure is difficult to ignore.

The fourth installment in Universal’s monster franchise, The Mummy: Book of the Dead reunites Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz as Rick and Evelyn O’Connell, alongside John Hannah as Evelyn’s brother, Jonathan Carnahan. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking duo known as Radio Silence, are directing from a screenplay by David Coggeshall.

The project represents a deliberate return to the franchise’s roots. The directors have confirmed that the disappointing 2008 installment, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, will not be part of the new film’s continuity, making this a direct sequel to 1999’s The Mummy and 2001’s The Mummy Returns. That decision brings the story back to the characters and mythology that made the original movies so popular.

Although Universal has not disclosed the sequel’s plot, the title offers a significant clue about its supernatural direction. Combined with a recent comment from a returning cast member about another familiar face, it makes one particularly exciting theory increasingly difficult to dismiss.

The Mummy 4’s Official Title Sets Up Imhotep’s Return

Brandan Fraser as Rick O'Connell fighting Arnold Vosloo as Imhotep in Mummy — Brandan Fraser as Rick O’Connell fighting Arnold Vosloo as Imhotep in Mummy.

The title The Mummy: Book of the Dead immediately recalls the black book that Evelyn accidentally reads in the 1999 original, awakening the ancient Egyptian high priest Imhotep. This subtitle therefore suggests a direct connection back to Imhotep.

In The Mummy, the book drives the entire conflict, linking Evelyn’s curiosity to Imhotep’s resurrection and the curse that threatens everyone around her. Bringing it back into the franchise’s official title suggests that the fourth film will revisit that mythology rather than introduce an entirely unrelated supernatural menace.

More significantly, John Hannah has already indicated that Arnold Vosloo was in talks to return as Imhotep in an interview with Ciak Magazine. However, Universal has not subsequently confirmed Vosloo’s return, and Hannah’s comments suggest that contract negotiations were still underway.

Nevertheless, Hannah’s specific statement, combined with the new title’s direct connection to the character’s original resurrection, makes Imhotep’s return a particularly convincing theory.

What Else The Mummy 4’s Book Of The Dead Title Could Mean For The Story

Rick, Evelyn, and Jonathan looking down in the ruins in The Mummy — Rick, Evelyn, and Jonathan in The Mummy

Imhotep’s return would be the most obvious explanation for the title, but the Book of the Dead could also provide a framework for repeating the original film’s central mistake. Evelyn’s decision to read from the ancient book awakens a being whose power she barely understands. A new character discovering the same artefact could unleash another supernatural catastrophe, forcing Rick and Evie to confront the consequences of their earlier adventures.

That approach would allow the sequel to revisit the original’s archaeological horror without simply repeating its plot. Rather than having Evelyn make the same mistake twice, the story could introduce a rival archaeologist, collector, or treasure hunter who believes the book contains knowledge worth pursuing. The O’Connells would then have to stop someone else from unleashing forces that should have remained buried.

The title could also indicate that the ancient texts themselves will play a larger role in the story. The original film distinguishes between the Book of the Dead, which resurrects Imhotep, and the Book of Amun-Ra, which removes his immortality. A sequel that revisits these artifacts could expand the mythology surrounding resurrection, mortality, and the Egyptian underworld.

There is also a narrative obstacle worth remembering. In The Mummy Returns, Imhotep ultimately falls into the Underworld. Bringing him back would require the sequel to explain how he escaped what appeared to be a definitive end.

For now, Universal has revealed neither the plot nor the precise significance of the title. However, the combination of the Book of the Dead‘s central role in the original film and Hannah’s comments about Vosloo provides a substantial basis for expecting The Mummy’s most recognizable supernatural antagonist to return.