Despite the fact that the movies never really received overwhelming critical responses, the Mummy movies of the late '90s to the early 2000's are often looked back upon fondly by nostalgic viewers today, with many seeing the films as enjoyable pieces of cinema with a warmth and charm that isn’t often seen today. This was made especially clear when The Mummy reboot failed on all fronts, with many comparing it negatively to Brendan Fraser's action-comedy trilogy.
The first sequel, The Mummy Returns, was one of the biggest films of 2001 and, as such, has some incredibly interesting behind-the-scenes facts. For fans of Brendan Fraser and the Mummy franchise in general, reading about these facts could even make the next viewing of the film that bit more interesting.
The Scorpion King Was The Rock’s Breakout Role
Today, the Rock is one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, with the wrestler-turned-actor now picking up the biggest wages of any actor in Hollywood. However, it was actually The Mummy Returns that gave him his first major big-screen break.
The Scorpion King was Dwayne Johnson's first major, big-screen role away from the world of WWE and wrestling in general. Say what you will about how poorly the Scorpion King's CGI aged or how amateurish the Rock's acting was at this early point in his Hollywood career, but it helped kickstart his future as the biggest movie star on the planet.
Brendan Fraser Suffered Serious Injuries On Set
Injuries aren’t exactly uncommon on movie sets, particularly action movies. However, what is surprising is just how many injuries Brendan Fraser picked up while filming The Mummy Returns, some of which lasted for years.
The specific injuries that Fraser suffered on set were a torn spinal disc, cracked ribs, and damaged knees. These horrifying injuries kept Fraser in pain for years after the movie ended, and was part of the reason why he didn't do so many action movies following The Mummy Returns.
The Rock Had To Speak Ancient Egyptian
As said earlier, the Scorpion King was the first major on-screen role of Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson. While the role wasn’t exceptionally large in terms of screentime, it had a few notably difficult requirements.
One of the most notable of these challenging requirements was for all of the Scorpion King’s lines to be spoken in Ancient Egyptian. This is a challenging feat for any actor portraying a similar character, never mind a pro-wrestler in his first movie role.
Rachel Weisz’s Contract Forbade Certain Stunts
It’s not unusual for actors to have certain stipulations in their contracts that prevent them from undertaking dangerous or just unfavorable jobs during filming. Rachel Weisz also had a contract that prevented her from doing certain things.
During filming, Weisz was set to run through a crumbling set but her contract forbade her to do it. Perhaps this was wise considering the number of injuries Brendan Fraser received while filming similar stunts.
The Sequel Used Real Vintage Buses
The opening sequence of The Mummy Returns is one of the most memorable in the whole film, showing the heroes fighting against recently resurrected mummies in London, appropriately, on a London double decker bus. What is interesting to note about this scene is that the buses are genuine vehicles from the set era.
In addition to having authentic buses, the ads plastered on the bus are also authentic, allowing for a fantastic sense of realism during the film.
The Pygmy Mummies Have A Backstory In The Novel
The Pygmy Mummies from the climax are one of the most memorable aspects of The Mummy Returns, with the heroes being chased through the oasis by these terrifying, aggressive little mummies.
While the movie doesn’t go into any explanation as to why they’re there or what they are, the novelization does. The book states that the mummies were brought back to Thebes to serve as the pharaoh's jesters.
The British Museum Was Really A College
One of the most iconic moments of this sequel occurs during the first half. The heroes are heading to the British Museum in order to try and thwart the plans of the villains early, though they would ultimately be unsuccessful.
However, what is interesting is that the location known as the ‘British Museum’ in the movie isn’t actually the British Museum. The museum was being refurbished, so the filmmakers had to use University College London instead.
The Rock Got Severe Food Poisoning
Traveling to foreign countries, despite its obvious benefits, has its own drawbacks. Often, it is likely that travelers may get upset stomachs or food poisoning when visiting certain areas, with the traveler being unaccustomed to the local cuisine.
The Rock himself wasn’t immune to food poisoning. While filming The Mummy Returns, the Rock contracted a case of food poisoning so bad that he lost 10 pounds and described it as one of the worst experiences of his life.
The Tower Bridge Was Closed For A Scene
Another of the most exciting and memorable scenes from The Mummy Returns was set in the Tower Bridge. Here, the heroes jumped over the raising bridge while being chased by the villains.
In order to film this scene, the crew had permission to close off the bridge for 20 minutes. However, after the ensuing traffic jam, Scotland Yard threatened the crew with arrest and reduced filming times.
Imhotep Had A Strict Shaving Regime
The Mummy of this movie, or Imhotep, is one slick villain. This isn’t necessarily in reference to his plans but rather, his smooth skin because his body appears to not have a single strand of hair on it.
The reason for this comes from the fact that, in order to maintain this smooth appearance, Arnold Vosloo would shave his body twice per day. While it appears to be a strange stylistic choice, it was certainly a show of commitment from Arnold Vosloo.