Ohh man this sucks! First of all you can’t have a Mummy movie without the involvement of writer/director Stephen Sommers, second, you can’t have a Mummy movie without the involvement of Arnold Vosloo (who played Imotep better known as The Mummy–who isn’t really a mummy for most of the movie) and now you definately know that they shouldn’t be making this movie without the main female…
from Darkhorizons.com:
Fraser In, Weisz Out Of “Mummy 3”
By Garth FranklinThursday April 12th 2007 9:17amimage Brendan Fraser has scored a lucrative deal to return for a third “The Mummy” film, but Rachel Weisz is not coming back.
Whilst amounts haven’t been disclosed, Fraser is said to have scored a very hefty paycheck for the project which is set in China and introduces Jet Li as a villain.
Weisz, who had been in talks, dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. At present she’s set for various projects including “The Brothers Bloom” and “Dirt Music”.
Scribes Miles Millar and Alfred Gough are readying a new draft that will incorporate Weisz’s absence, once approved the Rob Cohen directed project will be greenlit.
A late Summer start of shooting date is still expected, and Universal is planning a Summer 2008 release.
They better not make the excuse that she died! Brendan Fraser should be in China on some exhibit or something and have her taking care of the Museum or something. I hate it when they kill off character just because the person didn’t want to or couldn’t come back!
So, look for the Mummy 3 (or whatever they end up calling it) not being as good as the first two. Though I’m still not a fan of the first one, I think the second one was great and if they aren’t dealing with the same Mummy then they shouldn’t even be making another movie.
–Socram
Why do they have to do The Mummy? Why not another spinoff, like The Scorpion King? Just name it whatever Jet Li’s character is going to be.
Hell, they could do a whole series of those spinoff movies, with Brendan Fraser and friends defeating different enemies.
Maybe this wouldn’t really work after all, as I haven’t seen more than a few minutes of the Mummy movies…heh (you know that was coming).
Yeah, I knew that was coming…but the reason why they attach the name The Mummy instead of The Scorpion King or whatever else (hell, they may still do it anyway!) is because The Mummy sells! Why else would they have a The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift and not just Tokyo Drift? Or Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights as opposed to Havana Nights? If you attach it to a franchise (especially with names that were already in the series–ie Brendan Fraser) you theoretically have a hit on your hands…that is if you play your cards right!
Let’s assume for a second that Jet Li’s character is going to be called The Ninja King (kinda like The Scorpion King).
For a spinoff movie, we could call it The Mummy: The Ninja King. Then, when there’s a sequel to that, name it The Mummy: The Ninja King 2.
That way, when you’ve made 5 billion movies off The Mummy series, it doesn’t seem like so much like when the new Mummy movie comes out, and is named The Mummy 17. Branch out.
In theory…
Funny, I’m responding to this one because The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor comes out today.
And I was right!!