I haven’t spend much time trying to understand why they are bothering to make a third Mummy movie, but now that I am trying… well, I’ve got nothing. But there are ticketbuyers out there clamoring for more sandstorms and more Brendan Fraser, so there you have it. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is set to come out August 1, and according to its star, it’s not just going to be the same old stuff.

”[It’s] a very different movie,” Fraser told SciFi Wire. For starters, Rachel Weisz has dropped out after starring in the first two installments, and her character Evelyn O’Connell will now be played by Maria Bello. According to Fraser, the change is only for the better. “[Bello] is great, great, great."She's really got a lot of moxie. She can take care of herself. She was good news, and there are a lot of bad guys who will be suffering."

The latest movie will find Fraser’s Rick O’Connell, wife Evelyn and their son in China, where they must confront the resurrected spirit of Emperor Qin (Jet Li), who was cursed centuries earlier by a wizard (Michelle Yeoh). Fraser recognizes that it may be a little strange for audiences to have a new actress playing his wife, but in an action movie like this one, it’s not really about the actors. "Oh, heck, anyone could play Rick O'Connell or any of these roles. Any role can be played. It's a role. Rick O'Connell. You tell me, but I had such a good time making those movies that I couldn't resist coming back to that, even if it is seven years later. Well, at least he’s not trying to pretend he’s only doing this movie for the art.