Tangier is preparing to host a major Hollywood production, with three Boeing aircraft scheduled to arrive at Ibn Battouta International Airport on Monday, October 19, from London’s Heathrow Airport, carrying the cast and crew of the fourth installment of the internationally acclaimed The Mummy franchise.
Major hotels in the city, led by the Tazi Hotel in the Jbel Kebir area, have opened their doors to more than 1,240 members of the technical and artistic teams and production staff for what is set to be one of the city’s largest film productions in recent years.
Filming preparations and open-air set
According to information obtained by Le360 from sources, internationally renowned directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have arrived in the city, alongside a group of Hollywood stars led by Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz and John Hannah, as well as Oded Fehr.
Filming is officially scheduled to begin on Friday evening, October 23, with outdoor scenes to be shot across Tangier, Tetouan and Asilah until Saturday, October 31. The production will then move to southeastern Morocco, with filming planned in Erfoud, Rissani, Merzouga and Errachidia before concluding in Ouarzazate.
Local authorities and security services have also stepped up preparations to secure filming routes in the old city, particularly around the Kasbah district and Bab Kasbah, as well as archaeological sites and historic restaurants that will feature in the production.
The Mummy returns to Tangier’s old streets
Tangier is reinforcing its international position by hosting the new installment of the franchise after an absence of nearly 18 years. The city has already become a destination for major productions, with several high-profile film projects choosing Tangier in 2026.
The city’s historic streets and popular squares are seeing intense activity, with dozens of actors and set designers working alongside large numbers of extras throughout the week. The scenes are designed to recreate the visual identity of the well-known franchise.
The production continues a franchise that began nearly three decades ago with the release of The Mummy in 1999, which grossed more than $409 million worldwide. It was followed by The Mummy Returns in 2001, which generated $443 million, before the third installment, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, was released in 2008.
Behind the scenes and story details
Technical teams from the production company began scouting locations in Tangier several months ago, using drones to survey sites and determine filming angles. The old city’s streets reportedly impressed the filmmakers and the production’s leading actors.
The new installment follows another adventure involving explorer Rick O’Connell and Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan. The story unfolds across Tangier, where the two are drawn into a new mystery involving long-hidden secrets and legends, following their previous confrontation with Emperor Han and his army of the undead in the previous installment.
The production, overseen by the film group Radio Silence, is expected to be released in cinemas worldwide on October 15, 2027. The release date was brought forward from the previously scheduled May 19, 2028.
