Rob Cohen is in talks with Universal Pictures to direct the third installment of “The Mummy” franchise. The film, targeted for a 2008 release, was written by “Smallville” creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar.
Though no deals are in place for franchise stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz to return, both actors have had discussions about reprising their roles.
Stephen Sommers helmed the first two “Mummy” installments which after being released in 1999 and 2001 earned a combined worldwide gross of $849 million.
Producing the third film are Sommers and Bob Ducsay through the Sommers Co. as well as Sean Daniel and Jim Jacks via the Sean Daniel Co.
Cohen has directed two previous films for Universal, including The Fast and the Furious and The Skulls. He has also directed XXX for Revolution and Stealth for Sony.
In addition to a third “Mummy,” the studio has also been keen to develop Meet the Little Focker and a remake of the The Wolf Man and last year it purchased Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy 2: The Golden Army out of turnaround from Sony and Revolution.
