Several weeks ago on one of our Slice of SciFi shows we reported that Rachel Weisz opted out of the next Mummy flick in order to star in two other movie vehicles. Brenden Fraser also was reluctant to return, but when Universal Pictures offered him a paycheck that would put him in the category of one of the highest payed actors in Hollywood, he signed on to the project.

Now, Slice has learned that veteran actress Maria Bello (“A History of Violence,” “Thank You For Not Smoking”) will be Fraser’s wife and love interest in the film. Bello will portray Evelyn Carnahan O’Connell, the same character played by Weisz in the first two installments of the high grossing Mummy films ($830 million to date in gross ticket sales).

This time around she and Fraser set out on an adventureous trek to China with their young-adult son, played by Luke Ford. They are there to investigate the Buddhist conclaves in the Himalayas and to study the forbidden mummy tombs located in China. They soon find themselves doing battle with a mummy able to change his shape at will, whom they discover to be none other than a cursed Chinese emperor. Jet Li will portray the mummy emperor while the beautiful Michelle Yeoh plays the wizard who placed the mummy curse on him.

Rob Cohen (“xXx: State of the Union”) will direct “Mummy 3” which is expected in theaters by July 11, 2008.