All three of the previous Mummy installments (1999’s The Mummy, 2001’s The Mummy Returns & 2002’s The Scorpion King) brought in huge box office numbers and were always one of the highest grossing films of their respective years. So why now, just 6 years later, are we hearing zero hype? Maybe it’s because of the time gap or maybe it’s because Fraser’s status as an action movie box office draw has diminished significantly since The Mummy Returns hit theaters. Regardless, I really enjoyed all three previous Mummy films and I’m excited to see what Cohen’s take on the franchise will look like, especially considering the huge advancements in special effects technologies since the last Mummy installment.
Surprisingly, Cohen, a director known for making franchise starting films such as The Skulls, The Fast and The Furious and XXX, has never taken over a franchise midway before. I’m interested in seeing how he interprets a franchise based on another director’s vision. Even with former co-star Rachel Weisz being replaced by Maria Bello in the role of Evelyn Carnahan O’Connell, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor should be the sleeper blockbuster hit of the summer.
