Where Is Evelyn From The Mummy Now? - Looper (2024)

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Where Is Evelyn From The Mummy Now? - Looper (4)

Universal Pictures

ByBethy Squires/

Universal's 1999 remake of "The Mummy" was a cultural reset. It changed action movies, helping usher in the era of CGI villains and heavily comedic heroes. Rachel Weisz's Evelyn Carnahan (later O'Connell) propels the action of the first "Mummy" film. She is the one who recognizes the significance of the puzzle box that leads them to the city of Hamunaptra. She reads the incantation that awakens Imhotep, and it is her soul that the undead priest wants to give his dearly departed girlfriend.

Evelyn is a huge part of the "Mummy" franchise's appeal. Fans love the movie's blend of action, romance, and comedy — all of which Weisz contributes to. She channels screwball comediennes of the '30s for her sparkling performance, as The Stranger noted in its review, stating that Evelyn has "all the spunk and ditzy charm you'd expect from a heroine who can proudly proclaim she's not just smart... she's a librarian!"

The "Mummy" series fell off when Weisz failed to return for "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," the third installment in the "Mummy" series.A representative of Weisz toldDigital Spy that she didn't want to go to China and spend so much time away from her newborn son. After leaving the "Mummy" franchise, Weisz went on to work steadily in movies both big and small. But her most critically acclaimed work of late has been on a much smaller scale than "The Mummy."

From Egyptian treasure to Oscar gold

Where Is Evelyn From The Mummy Now? - Looper (5)

Marvel Studios/Disney

Rachel Weisz won an Academy Award not long after "The Mummy Returns" for her performance in the 2005 adaptation of John Le Carré's "The Constant Gardener." The film centers on Ralph Fiennes' Justin Quayle, who tries to solve the murder of his wife. Weisz plays the ill-fated wife, Tessa, an Amnesty activist in Kenya. "The movie is a progress back into her life," wrote Roger Ebert, "and a journey of discovery for Justin, who discovers a woman he never really knew."

Weisz also has had some brief dalliances with other blockbuster franchises post-"Mummy." The same year she starred in "The Constant Gardener,"she made a foray into comic book adaptations with the cult favorite "Constantine."She'd go on to star in "The Bourne Legacy," opposite Jeremy Renner and Edward Norton, before doing her time in the MCU, playing Melina Vostokoff in "Black Widow" in 2021.Vostokoff is something of a mother figure to Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff and Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova. As of yet, there's been no word if Vostokoff will return to the MCU, but there's little doubt fans would adore seeing her again.

While Wiesz's experience with blockbusters is extensive, her most notable work of late has been in more indie fare. Despite being married to a man (specifically Daniel Craig, a.k.a. James Bond), Weisz has become what Vice called "the Unofficial Straight LGBTQ Ambassador," and it's her work in the indie drama sphere that has earned her that title.

Rachel Weisz is doing it for the girls

Where Is Evelyn From The Mummy Now? - Looper (6)

Searchlight Pictures

Weisz first worked with Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos on his 2015 black comedy "The Lobster" where she played a woman searching for love before she gets turned into an animal. She would reunite with Lanthimos for 2018's "The Favourite," in which she plays Lady Sarah Churchill. Lady Sarah starts the film as the titular "favourite" of Queen Anne, played by Olivia Colman, as well as her secret girlfriend. Emma Stone plays Abigail Masham, who woos the Queen away from Lady Sarah in an attempt to stay in power at court. Colman won an Academy Award for her performance as Queen Anne, the apex of the unlikely love triangle.

The same year as "The Favourite," Weisz starred in "Disobedience," opposite Rachel McAdams. The drama focuses on two women from the Orthodox Jewish community who try to reconcile their love for each other with their sometimes overbearingly strict community. Weisz's performance in "The Favourite," combined with "Disobedience" and the queer community's recent claiming of "The Mummy" franchise (as noted by the Mary Sue, i-D, and Tor), has vaulted Weisz into queer icon status.

Weisz's queer turn may have something to do with the fact that she's primarily focused on women-centered stories. "I really enjoy all the thousands of movies I've seen about men," she told the New York Times. "I mean, there are some great masterpieces. But there's just a dearth of ones about women. I love women. Women are just really fascinating and different to men." Fans can likely expect this trend to continue with Weisz's future projects.

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Where Is Evelyn From The Mummy Now? - Looper (2024)

FAQs

Why is Evelyn not in the mummy 3? ›

Rachel Weisz did not appear in this third installment of "The Mummy" films, and instead, her character, Evy, was played by Maria Bello. There were differing accounts as to why this happened. According to director Rob Cohen, it was because Weisz refused to portray someone with a 21-year-old son.

Does Evelyn come back to life in The Mummy Returns? ›

Hence, the spell in the book only granted him immortality, and at the end of the second movie, Osiris strips him of his powers and his immortality. And when Alex brings back Evie, she returns as an immortal, and Imhotep and Anku are killed or flung to the underworld.

What is the name of Evelyn in The Mummy? ›

Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns and Maria Bello in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) - also known as Evy - is characterized as a clever but clumsy Egyptologist in the Cairo Museum of Antiquities.

Why was Evy recast in The Mummy? ›

One explanation (via Digital Spy) for Rachel Weisz's The Mummy 3 exit was given by the sequel's director, Rob Cohen. It wasn't very flattering, as Cohen suggested Weisz balked at the idea of playing a character with an adult son, as Evie and Rick's son in the Mummy franchise was being aged up for the film.

Is Evelyn related to Anck-Su-Namun? ›

To restore Imhotep to his full glory, Anck-Su-Namun tricks her accomplices into opening the cursed chest that would allow him to drain their life forces. In one flashback, it is revealed that Evelyn is the reincarnation of Nefertiti, the daughter of the same pharaoh to whom Anck-Su-Namun was betrothed and murdered.

Will there be a The Mummy 4? ›

There has been no official announcement yet, so we're taking it with a pinch of salt, but rumours are circulating on social media that Universal is working on The Mummy 4 and is very keen to reunite Fraser and Weisz.

Will there be a Mummy 2 movie? ›

Did Anck-Su-namun love Imhotep? ›

Imhotep's curse wreaks havoc in The Mummy as he sets out to resurrect Anck-su-namun, as they were lovers during their lifetimes. Just like Imhotep, her character is based on real Egyptian history, but not in the way the movie makes it out to be.

How is Anck-Su-Namun alive? ›

Together with their son Alex, who is the path to Ahm Shere, they make up the three sides of a pyramid. In the meantime, Imhotep brings Anck-su-namun's soul back from the underworld and places it in Meela's body, restoring her completely.

Is Evelyn A Boy or a girl? ›

Evelyn is a gender-neutral baby name of mixed origins. With the British translation “desired” and “island," Evelyn is definitely a name to yearn for.

Who is the kid in Mummy 2? ›

Frederick William Boath (born 6 May 1991) is an English actor best known for his role as Alex O'Connell in The Mummy Returns (2001). He now works as a marketing and advertising professional.

Who is the new actress in the mummy 3? ›

It is the third and final installment in The Mummy trilogy. It stars Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello (replacing Rachel Weisz, who played Evelyn in the first two films), John Hannah, Luke Ford, Anthony Wong, and Michelle Yeoh.

Why did Rachel Weisz quit The Mummy? ›

Unfortunately, Weisz didn't return for the third Mummy movie because she reportedly didn't want to spend time away from her newborn son. As a result, Evelyn wasn't written out of the movie but was instead recast. Maria Bello played Evelyn in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

Why did The Mummy reboot fail? ›

Summary. The marketing for 2017's The Mummy was misleading and featured unimportant details, leading viewers to have false expectations. Tom Cruise's involvement in the film was wasted as his character lacked substance and did not showcase his talents.

What happened to Alex's accent in The Mummy? ›

In The Mummy Returns young Alex has an English accent like his mother however in this movie an older Alex as an American accent like his father. The Terracotta Army are called "mummies" throughout.

Why didn t Rachel Weisz reprise her role in The Mummy 3? ›

Unfortunately, Weisz didn't return for the third Mummy movie because she reportedly didn't want to spend time away from her newborn son. As a result, Evelyn wasn't written out of the movie but was instead recast. Maria Bello played Evelyn in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

Why was Ardeth not in the mummy 3? ›

Oded Fehr was also asked to reprise his role as Ardeth Bay. Fehr declined because Imhotep was not to be in the film, and had felt that if there was no Imhotep, then Ardeth Bay had no point or reason to appear in the movie.

Why was the cast different in the mummy 3? ›

In April, Brendan Fraser re-joined the cast for the film. Weisz did not, citing "problems with the script" in addition to having just given birth to her son. The film was shot in Montreal and China. The film was originally reported to be titled The Mummy 3: Curse of the Dragon.

Why did they recast the woman in The Mummy? ›

It was those changes that led to Rachel Weisz's departure from the role of Evie O'Connell. The final draft wasn't reportedly up to her standards, and that combined with her unwillingness to leave her son for a five-month shoot in China meant that her involvement was a no-go.

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