The Mummy Returns Director Displays on Turning The Rock Right into a Film Star

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one in every of as we speak’s hottest and profitable film stars, and all of it started with an look in 2001’s The Mummy Returns. The movie marked the performing debut of Johnson, who first rose to fame as one of many largest stars within the world of professional wrestling.

In a brand new interview with THR, director Stephen Sommers seemed again on the casting of Johnson as Mathayus Akkad, aka The Scorpion King. As Sommers was apparently not a fan of wrestling on the time, he had not but heard of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson when the professional wrestler had been solid. Nevertheless, the director realized fairly rapidly upon watching footage of The Rock in motion that the casting was “good.” He additionally remembered how little time he needed to shoot Johnson’s scene, in addition to the place the concept for Johnson’s personal spinoff movie got here from.

Associated

Dwayne Johnson Prepares for Battle in Prep Video for Next Film

Acclaimed actor Dwayne Johnson readies himself for the cage as he will get set to painting an MMA legend in his subsequent film.

“He was nice,” Sommers mentioned. “I had by no means heard of the man, however then they despatched me some footage of him, and he was simply good. I needed to shoot so quick with him as a result of he flew into Marrakesh on Wednesday, and he needed to be in Detroit for a WWE factor on Saturday. However boy, was he a trooper. As quickly because the studio noticed the dailies, the president of Common was calling me up and saying, ‘You bought to write down a film for him.’ Someway over the following week or so, I got here up with this concept that turned the Scorpion King film.”

Dwayne Johnson Starred in The Scorpion King

Whereas Johnson was solely featured in a restricted presence with a giant enhance from CGI, he had a way more substantial function in his personal spinoff. The Scorpion King, launched in 2002, was co-written by Sommers, William Osborne, and David Hayter, whereas Chuck Russell directed. This is able to mark the primary starring function for Johnson, who has since remained one of many largest names in Hollywood. The Scorpion King earned greater than $180 million on the field workplace in opposition to a finances of $60 million.

Associated

‘That Really Bugs Me’: Dwayne Johnson Addresses ‘Woke’ and Cancel Culture

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson feedback on his frustrations with “woke tradition.”

Extra just lately, Johnson starred within the superhero film Black Adam and returned as Hobbs within the 2023 sequel Quick X. He has a number of upcoming high-profile initiatives within the works, such because the upcoming holiday action movie Red One. He will even return because the voice of Maui for the animated sequel Moana 2, and can play the live-action model of the character in a Moana remake.

The Mummy Returns is at the moment streaming on Hulu.

Supply: The Hollywood Reporter

The Mummy Returns (2001)

The mummified physique of Imhotep is shipped to a museum in London, the place he as soon as once more wakes and begins his marketing campaign of rage and terror.

Director

Stephen Sommers

Launch Date

Could 4, 2001

Solid

Brendan Fraser , Rachel Weisz , John Hannah , Arnold Vosloo , Oded Fehr , Patricia Velasquez

Writers

Stephen Sommers

Runtime

130 minutes

Major Style

Journey