In a shocking turn of events, Brendan Fraser, the beloved star of the original The Mummy trilogy, has reportedly decided to walk away from the upcoming fourth installment of the franchise.

The reason behind his sudden departure?

It seems that Fraser was less than thrilled when he discovered that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, had been chosen to replace Rachel Weitz as his on-screen love interest.

“I’m not going to work with Meghan,” Fraser boldly declared.

His fury stemmed from the fact that Markle, who has been embroiled in a series of controversies since marrying Prince Harry and leaving the royal family, had been cast as Evelyn Carnahan, a character originally portrayed by Weitz in the first two films.

Fraser’s disappointment was palpable, as he had recently made a triumphant comeback in Hollywood after years of personal and professional struggles.

He was excited about reprising his role as Rick O’Connell, the adventurous and charismatic hero of the series.

Moreover, he had been eagerly looking forward to reuniting with Weitz, with whom he shared great chemistry both on and off-screen.

However, Fraser’s hopes were dashed when he learned that Weitz had declined to return for the fourth film due to scheduling conflicts and creative differences.

To make matters worse, Markle had been hired as her replacement, leaving Fraser feeling outraged and betrayed by the producers.

He couldn’t fathom why they would choose Meghan Markle, of all people, to fill Rachel Weitz’s shoes.

In his eyes, she was a terrible actress, a publicity seeker, and a troublemaker.

Fraser wanted no part in the royal drama that seemed to follow her everywhere.

According to reports, Fraser confronted the producers and demanded that they recast the role of Evelyn, or else he would walk away from the project altogether.

However, the producers stood their ground, arguing that Markle’s casting was a strategic move to generate attention and controversy for the film, ultimately boosting its box office performance.

They assured Fraser that Markle’s star power would captivate audiences and bring a fresh, modern twist to the character.

Despite their attempts to persuade him, Fraser remained unconvinced and ultimately decided to quit The Mummy 4.

He made it clear that he would rather distance himself from the project entirely than work alongside Meghan Markle.

Moreover, he expressed his disappointment and frustration with the direction the franchise had taken, believing it had lost its original charm and spirit.

Fraser envisioned The Mummy 4 as a reunion of the original cast and crew, a tribute to the fans who adored the first two films.

He didn’t want to witness Rachel Weitz’s character being tarnished by Meghan Markle in a cheap and sensationalized sequel designed solely to capitalize on her fame and controversy.

Fraser’s departure has thrown The Mummy 4 production into disarray, as filmmakers scramble to find a suitable replacement or potentially rewrite the script to accommodate his absence.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle has remained tight-lipped about the situation, seemingly unfazed by Fraser’s reaction.

She maintains confidence in her ability to do justice to the role of Evelyn.

Directed by John Turteltaub and produced by Alex Kurtzman, The Mummy 4 is scheduled to commence filming in early 2024, with a release date set for late 2024.

The film will also feature Tom Cruise, who starred in the 2017 reboot of The Mummy, alongside both new and returning cast members.