Maria Bello Steps in for Rachel Weisz on 'Mummy 3'

by Scott Weinberg May 14th 2007 // 10:02AM

Filed under: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Universal, Comic/Superhero/Geek

If the news had been "Maria Bello to replace Rachel Weisz as the female lead in the Mummy series," that wouldn't be all that strange. But word from Variety is that Maria Bello will be stepping in to play the exact same role. Ugh, it's always weird when this happens, isn't it?

Apparently Ms. Weisz just wasn't interested in returning for a third mummy-go-round, and no amount of Universal green would change her mind. Which means than a very fine actress, albeit one not exactly known for big-budget adventure movies, has earned a place in one of next summer's big-time tentpole pictures. Good for her. (Ms. Bello is best known for recent work in World Trade Center, Thank You for Smoking and A History of Violence, in which she was really damn excellent.)

As reported earlier, the third Mummy flick will star Brendan Fraser as bandage-battling adventurer Rick O'Connell, Luke Ford as his 20-something son, Michelle Yeoh as a nasty wizard (?) and Jet Li as a mummified ol' emperor. Universal is hoping that the Rob Cohen flick (which was written by Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar) will re-invigorate the franchise and bring in lots of young new spectators. Guess we'll find out next summer.

9 Comments

Tags: cinematical, maria bello, MariaBello, mummy 3, Mummy3, rachel weisz, RachelWeisz, rob cohen, RobCohen, scott weinberg, ScottWeinberg

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-14-2007 @ 10:28AM

Nicky said...

Sorry, i love Maria Bello but this is a bad career move on her part. The script is reportedly really bad, so bad in fact that Rachel Weisz turn it down. Not to mention the fact that Maria looks nothing like Rachel.

It seems to me that Maria is deperate for a pay check, even going as far as to sell herself out.

5-14-2007 @ 10:43AM

Kent said...

Casting Maria Bello in the part is a very bad ideal.

Talk about major miscasting.

5-14-2007 @ 11:55AM

Cinty said...

Maria Bello is no Rachel Weisz.

The movie is going to suck.

5-14-2007 @ 1:11PM

Quincy said...

Maria Bello must really need the money if she is willing to destroy her credibility to do this film.

5-14-2007 @ 11:13PM

max aldahondo said...

I find it amusing that Rachel Weisz found the script for Mummy 3 so bad she refused all kinds of money to be in in it but she didn't have any problems with Mummy 2. Give me a break.

5-15-2007 @ 8:24AM

Paul said...

Mummy 2 was some what decent but Mummy 3 is reported to be horrible. Rachel did her part for this series and she does not need to waste her time with a horrible third film.

So give us all a break Max and come up with a better argument.

P.S. Maria Bello is a lousy replacement for Rachel Weisz.

5-15-2007 @ 11:08AM

vacelts said...

I like Maria Bello, but this is a bad idea. Why didn't they just write Evie out of this movie.

http://redlightnaps.wordpress.com/2007/05/15/bello-joins-mummy-3/

5-17-2007 @ 12:50AM

Troy said...

I've read the script for "The Mummy 3". I can't say that what I read will make it to the screen, but the script was NOT horrible. In fact, it was quite good. If you're a fan of "The Mummy", which I am(but not M2) then you should like the script I read. It's pure pop culture. It was an old thrilling Raiders/Mummy type serial and felt like a great continuation of the series.

5-18-2007 @ 12:57AM

kathy said...

'I've read the script for "The Mummy 3". I can't say that what I read will make it to the screen, but the script was NOT horrible.'

Then you are the only good review for it then because every script review for this film has been very bad on both drifts of the script.

This is going to be a bad film.