It looks like “The Dark Knight” may have to abdicate the throne of first place for a new blockbuster in the making. Third in the series, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” is expected to gross over $50 million in its opening weekend in United States and Canada.

Warner Brother’s production “The Dark Knight” starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger grossed over $ 40 million in its third session. Brilliant performances as well as controversies seemed to have attracted people to the theaters.

“The Mummy 3” on the other hand is Brendan Fraser’s adventure franchise set in China. Having a strong fan base already, this movie brings in Jet Li as a vicious power thirsty emperor who rises to take over the world. Michelle Yeoh plays a witch who helps the famous O’Connells through. Rachel Weisz is replaced by Maria Bello in the movie which promises plenty of action doses.

The movie has a lot of expectations to look up to. The first movie in the series “The Mummy” in 1999 opened at $43.4 million and made $155.4 million worldwide. 2001’s “The Mummy Returns” unwrapped a $68 million bow and made $202 million respectively.

Friday also debuts Disney the Kevin Costner political comedy "Swing Vote," but low turnout among an older-skewing crowd, may bring returns on in single digit millions.

The X-Files tried to unseat “The Dark Knight” but failed miserably. Now an equally old franchise “The Mummy, 3” will try to overthrow the most successful superhero movie of all times. One wonder’s if Jet Li and Brendan Fraser have that kind of power?