Gerard Butler Had a Failed Mummy Movie Before Brendan Fraser’s Hit

As a longtime fan of horror and fantasy films, I find myself constantly drawn to the intricate web of stories that unfold within these genres. My personal journey through cinema has led me to some truly memorable experiences – as well as a few forgettable ones. The tale of Russell Mulcahy’s Tale of the Mummy falls squarely in the latter category, and I must say, it left an indelible mark on my cinematic memory… though not in the way its creators intended.

1999 saw Stephen Sommers’ movie “The Mummy,” starring Brendan Fraser, becoming a massive hit at the box office, grossing over $400M. With its action-packed adventure story, it revitalized interest in mummy-themed projects, which hadn’t been popular since the 1930s. This resurgence was unexpected given the failure of “Tale of the Mummy,” directed by Russell Mulcahy and featuring a young Gerard Butler in his third film, released the previous year. Despite sharing the same theme, “The Mummy” and “Tale of the Mummy” were polar opposites in terms of success, leaving us pondering why one movie triumphed while the other flopped.

‘The Mummy’ Filmmakers Were Better Prepared

In my opinion, I find myself drawn into an engaging, action-packed tale with “The Mummy,” where a reawakened mummy and a treasure seeker embark on a journey. This movie is suitable for all ages, earning positive reviews from critics. On the other hand, “Tale of the Mummy” seems to veer off in a different direction, presenting itself as a horror film, but falling short even in that category. It follows archaeologists and an ancient tomb across three distinct time periods, but is plagued by poor pacing, a confusing narrative, and a surprising lack of horror elements considering its genre. Consequently, viewers were left baffled and let down. Unfortunately, “Tale of the Mummy” offers minimal suspense, disqualifying it as a successful thriller, and its over-the-top cheesiness makes it hard to take seriously.

It’s plausible that the varying levels of pre-production work between the two movies could have led to such significant differences between them. The creators of “The Mummy” spent almost a decade refining their adaptation of the 1932 movie, changing writers and directors until they achieved their desired result. Without this extensive preparation, “The Mummy” might have looked quite different. In contrast, Russell Mulcahy and Keith Williams conceived “Tale of the Mummy” in late 1995, and production on the film began just two years later.

Mulcahy and Sommers Had Similar Inspirations

It’s worth noting that both movies were influenced by earlier works, all tracing back to Karl Freund’s 1932 film The Mummy. Mulcahy acknowledged his fascination with Hammer Film Productions’ The Mummy (1959), which itself was inspired by The Mummy’s Hand (1940) and its successor, The Mummy’s Tomb (1942). These films reused footage from the 1932 project. On the other hand, Sommers’ movie was a direct adaptation of Freund’s original. While Mulcahy aimed to bring a fresh perspective to these classic tales, it appears that Sommer’s reinterpretation of a successful concept was more successful.

Tale of the Mummy Had Embarrassing Special Effects

One significant issue with the film “Tale of the Mummy” was its subpar visual effects and awkward CGI. In some instances, these elements were so poorly executed that they caused audience members to unintentionally chuckle, particularly when considering the faulty animatronics, which failed to synchronize the characters’ mouth movements effectively. Given that this film is a borderline monster story involving a reincarnated mummy on a murder spree to acquire people’s organs, it appears as though the filmmakers didn’t fully consider how to create a convincing monster. While some viewers found the movie amusing, their laughter was primarily directed at the film rather than with it.

Instead, it’s worth noting that “The Mummy” collaborated with multiple reputable special effects studios from the project’s inception to its premiere. By skillfully blending computer-generated imagery, makeup, prosthetics, and live-action, the movie effectively established a convincing ambiance that kept audiences immersed in the story. To give credit where it’s due, “Tale of the Mummy” was operating on a budget of $10M, significantly larger than the average horror film budget at the time but a mere fraction of the $80M allocated to “The Mummy.” In fact, the special effects budget for “The Mummy” surpassed the entire budget of “Tale of the Mummy.

Casting Decisions Can Make or Break a Project

One significant difference between “The Tale of the Mummy” and “The Mummy” lies in their casting choices. While “The Tale of the Mummy” boasted some recognizable names, it unfortunately did not capitalize on its actors’ talents effectively. For instance, Sir Christopher Lee, a renowned figure in horror films, appears briefly at the start before his character meets an untimely demise in a puff of ancient dust and self-induced folly. Other stars include martial artist Jason Scott Lee, Louise Lombard, who later gained fame on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation“, and Sean Pertwee, a popular live-action and voice actor who would later star as Alfred Pennyworth in “Gotham“. Regrettably, these talented individuals were not fully utilized in the film.

Initially, Gerard Butler, who later gained fame with films like “P.S. I Love You,” “The Ugly Truth,” and action hits such as “300” and “Den of Thieves” (including the upcoming sequel “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” in 2024), is seen in this film. In this movie, he portrays a member of an archaeological team who meets an untimely death by falling, a rather self-inflicted end. Regardless of how established Butler was at the time or his future accomplishments, this role seems to have been less fortunate for him. As of 2024, it appears Butler has never mentioned working on “Tale of the Mummy,” which might indicate he’s content with the film fading into obscurity, leaving behind a mere shadow on an otherwise impressive career portfolio.

Fraser Connected with Audiences

Conversely, the movie “The Mummy” features Brendan Fraser as its principal character, Rick O’Connell, a treasure hunter, opposite Rachel Weisz. Notably, big-name actors like Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck were also considered for this role, underscoring the grandeur of this production compared to Mulcahy’s. By then, Fraser was well established in the industry with nearly a decade of experience behind him.

In his own words to the Los Angeles Times in 2023, Fraser stated, “Rick is a character brimming with unruly vigor, he’s lighthearted and doesn’t take life too seriously. However, if an actor portraying Rick doesn’t fully embrace the situation and the authenticity of the film, neither will the audience.” This suggests that Fraser performed all his own stunts, even those perilous ones, to ensure a believable performance.

Leaving a Legacy (or Not)

It turns out that Fraser successfully won over the crowd, leading to him getting more chances to play his character in the two sequels of the franchise: The Mummy Returns (2001) and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), both currently available on Peacock. As it marks its 25th anniversary in 2024, The Mummy has demonstrated its enduring appeal by staying current, and Fraser himself is open to the idea of another sequel. On the other hand, Mulcahy’s unsuccessful mummy attempt has essentially been buried and forgotten, with many members of the cast choosing to disassociate themselves from the project.

Since then, Mulcahy has shifted his focus towards television directing, particularly on the popular series “Teen Wolf” during its six seasons. Interestingly enough, Mulcahy ended up directing one of the direct-to-video sequels of The Scorpion King, a spinoff from the Brendan Fraser mummy movies. Some might argue that “The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior” surpasses Mulcahy’s own film “Tale of the Mummy,” although it’s not saying much. You can find Mulcahy’s movie linked below:

Watch Tale of the Mummy

2024-12-25 06:32