Brendan Fraser gets big bucks for reprisal, while Rachel Weisz bows out of popular franchise.

Star Brendan Fraser has signed a lucative deal to reprise his role as adventurer Rick O’Connell in The Mummy 3, but co-star Rachel Weisz will not be returning as his love interest, according to Variety.

Fraser’s salary details have not been disclosed, but its amount is reportedly at the high-end of the pay scale. While no official reason has been given as to why Weisz has bowed out, it’s speculated that her entry into motherhood and winning an Oscar since her appearance in the second film The Mummy Returns are possible factors. Also, Weisz has four other acting gigs lined up for the near future that could have prevented her return to the franchise as scholar Evelyn “Evy” Carnahan O’Connell.

Smallville creators Miles Millar and Alfred Gough are rewriting the script to factor in the absence of Weisz. Universal Pictures is holding up a greenlight pending a final draft, but production is expected to being late in the summer.

While Fraser will star, he will no longer play the main protagonist. Instead, the plot will focus on Alex O’Connell (rumored to be played by 17-year-old Alex Pettyfer), Rick and Evy’s now-adult son. Alex first appeared in the second film as a precocious 10-year-old.

As previously reported, the Universal Pictures’ action adventure will be set in China and will feature action star Jet Li as the movie’s villainous title character. Actress Michelle Yeoh will also star.

The Mummy 3 (aka Mummy: Curse of the Dragon), which is scheduled for a July 11, 2008 release, is being directed by Rob Cohen with Stephen Sommers, Bob Ducsay, Sean Daniel, and Jim Jacks producing.