Brendan Fraser is back, and he's bringing his on-screen son for the adventure this time in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. The third film in The Mummy series, Australian actor Luke Ford portrays Alex O'Connell – the estranged son of Fraser's tomb plundering character. We had a brief but energetic exchange a little while back about the ins and outs of the shoot, including his voice work in the game as well as shooting the breeze with the Encino Man himself. IGN: Hey Luke, thanks for chatting to IGN.
Luke Ford:
Hey Pat, how are you mate?
IGN: Welcome back to town; you've been away for a while.
Luke Ford:
Yeah, it's been a bit of an adventure. It's been pretty crazy.
IGN: Tell me about your character in Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. You play Brendan Fraser's son, right? How does that work? What's the real-world age difference between the two of you?
Luke Ford:
I'd say around 14 years! I'm 27 and I think Brendan's about 41.
IGN: Eww. That's kind of creepy when you think about the implications.
Luke Ford:
He was a young one. He was 'young and fertile' is what I say. [laughs]
IGN: No kidding! Did that ever come up on set? Did you ever joke about the age difference?
Luke Ford:
Nah, I think the closest it ever came on-set was when Brendan came up to me and said 'Luke... I am your father.' And that was it. We didn't really talk about the age difference. It was kind of ignored.
No – I've only seen little clips of it when I went in to do my voice-acting in the game – a bit of ADR. It looks really good; very much like the film, following the pattern of the film. Seeing yourself as game character is strange, particularly now that my friends can kill me. [laughs] That's the strange part of it.
IGN: Did they scan your face and model your physique?
Luke Ford:
Yeah, they did all that in Montreal and that was part of the visual effects as well as part of the game and all that. Then when we came to Australia to do the game, I just did the voice and the actions and they filmed it a little bit. For the actions, I had to get straight into that American-style action and try and get it as realistic as possible. It just takes a lot of enthusiasm, to just jump straight back into Alex O'Connell – the charming character that he is. Other than that, I just enjoyed it; just had fun.
IGN: Did you have any representatives from the film team with you during recording?
Luke Ford:
They had some people in America who would monitor it by phone. They were keeping an ear on my accent and especially my relationship with the other characters and where my character was coming from – in the sense of his background. We never really established where he came from; whether he was English or American – we went with American, to be honest. But he fled to Australia during the war...
IGN:...Convenient!
Luke Ford:
[laughs] Yeah, that helped with my accent a bit. So they went with that – as you do. That's pretty much the background of Alex; he hasn't lived with his parents for a long time. He's been away at boarding school and all that. The video game is basically Alex trying to be very independent.
IGN: What was it like working with Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh?
Luke Ford:
Jet Li was fantastic – a machine. One of the all-time greatest martial arts masters in the world and it was just amazing to work with him. I didn't really get to 'know' Jet Li – he's an entity. It would've been pretty hard to sit down with him and say, 'hey, wanna have a cup of coffee?', you know what I mean? So I didn't get to see much of a sense of humour or anything, but he was never rude; just a very quiet guy – which is cool.
Michelle is different; she's a bit more fun. A playful lady, but then she gets to work and she's very serious.
IGN: And is Brendan Fraser a dreamboat in real life too?
Luke Ford:
Yes. Wait. What? [laughs] You know, that's Brendan – a real character, an unusually funny man and you just enjoy his time and his company. There's a real soft side to him.
IGN: He's come a long way since Encino Man.
Luke Ford:
Aw, mate – that's all I remember him as. Every time I'd see his name, I'd think 'Encino Man'. Or ooh! 'Airheads'!
IGN: What was the jump like from Kokoda and The Black Balloon to something as epic as this? Was it a shock?
Luke Ford:
It was, it was. It was fun though – and it's a style I'd like to keep doing, along with things like Kokoda and The Black Balloon. The hardest day on the shoot was when we're prepping something very large to fall on my head. The amount of sand that went in my eye – it was ripping my eyeballs up and my whole face was covered in sand; my whole eyeball.
I did my knee in, too – I did all these major stunts, and then I did this one minor stunt on a flight of stairs and I strained a ligament on the side of my knee. I wasn't really out of commission though – you just have to keep filming. 'Trooper', basically. [laughs] I got physio twice a day and it took about a month to heal to the point where I could jump again properly.
IGN: What's next for you?
Luke Ford:
I'm not sure! I'm waiting for this to come out first, and then hopefully we'll take it from there!
IGN: Cheers!
Luke Ford:
Beautiful, my man!
Expert Introduction
I'm a film enthusiast with a deep knowledge of the entertainment industry, including film production, acting, and video game adaptations. I have extensive experience in analyzing and discussing various aspects of films, such as casting, character portrayal, and behind-the-scenes insights. I've closely followed the careers of actors like Brendan Fraser and Luke Ford and have a keen understanding of the challenges and intricacies involved in bringing iconic characters to life on the big screen.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
The article you provided discusses the film "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" and provides insights into the casting, character portrayal, and behind-the-scenes experiences of the actors involved. Let's break down the concepts used in the article and delve into their significance:
Brendan Fraser's Return
Brendan Fraser's return to the Mummy series demonstrates the enduring popularity and impact of his portrayal of the adventurous character. His reprisal of the role and the addition of new elements, such as bringing his on-screen son into the adventure, indicate the franchise's evolution and the exploration of new character dynamics.
Luke Ford's Role
Luke Ford's portrayal of Alex O'Connell, the estranged son of Brendan Fraser's character, adds a generational dynamic to the story. The article highlights Ford's perspective on playing the character and his interactions with the cast, providing insights into the challenges and experiences of taking on such a role.
Character Dynamics and Age Difference
The discussion about the age difference between Luke Ford and Brendan Fraser's characters sheds light on the behind-the-scenes interactions and humor among the cast. It offers a glimpse into the lighthearted moments during the filming process and how actors navigate the dynamics of their on-screen relationships.
Video Game Adaptation
The mention of Luke Ford's involvement in the video game adaptation and his experience with voice acting provides insight into the multimedia extension of the film franchise. It showcases the integration of actors into gaming technology and the challenges of translating their performances into a different medium.
Working with Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh
Luke Ford's interactions with Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh offer a glimpse into the collaboration with renowned actors and martial arts masters. It provides an understanding of the professional dynamics on set and the experiences of working alongside industry legends.
Transition in Acting Career
The discussion about Luke Ford's transition from smaller-scale films to a major blockbuster like "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" highlights the actor's versatility and adaptability. It reveals the challenges and physical demands associated with such a shift in roles and production scale.
Future Projects
Luke Ford's uncertainty about his next projects after the release of "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" reflects the transitional phase actors often experience after significant film releases. It offers a glimpse into the anticipation and unpredictability of the entertainment industry.
Overall, the article provides a comprehensive look at the behind-the-scenes dynamics, actor experiences, and the evolving nature of film franchises, offering valuable insights into the world of filmmaking and the experiences of the actors involved.
What Rachel Weisz Said About Not Returning For The Mummy 3. A representative of Rachel Weisz told Digital Spy that she stepped away from The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor as she had a newborn son and didn't want to be away from him for an extended period to shoot the next movie in The Mummy franchise.
The director of the 3rd film claimed Weisz declined after they were going to make her a mother to a 21 year old character. Back in the day it was rumored Weisz declined the film due to being unhappy with the script and thought it was a disservice to her character but that was never confirmed by anyone.
Rachel Weisz did not appear in this third installment of "The Mummy" films, and instead, her character, Evy, was played by Maria Bello. There were differing accounts as to why this happened. According to director Rob Cohen, it was because Weisz refused to portray someone with a 21-year-old son.
Different stories have circulated about the recasting, including a suggestion that Weisz didn't want to play a character with an adult son. Maria Bello replaced Weisz as Evie in The Mummy 3, but faced challenges because fans were attached to Weisz's portrayal. Bello did a good job, but Weisz's absence was felt.
Nice idea for a story, but it didn't have a mummy in it. Rachel Weicz's replacement just isn't up to the task, the script is horrible, and the film just has nowhere near the good vibe as the original two films did.
Rick discovers that their son may be alive, held captive by malevolent forces. Join Universal Pictures in 2025 for a gripping tale of family, danger, and the unyielding pursuit of hope.” However, both the poster and the logline aren't real, and The Mummy 4 is not happening.
It was Rachel Weisz that left after 'The Mummy Returns' film for reasons ranging to scheduling conflicts to having a new born son and my personal favourite she balked at playing a character with an adult son. The role of Evie O'Connell went to Maria Bello.
It's no secret that the threequel wasn't anywhere near as well received as its predecessors, and that's partly due to Weisz's absence. Unfortunately, Weisz didn't return for the third Mummy movie because she reportedly didn't want to spend time away from her newborn son.
The couple also shares a 4-year-old daughter, whose name has never been made public. Though Weisz and Craig are very private about their daughter, in a 2018 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the Black Widow actress admitted their little girl looks a lot like her dad.
While his nationality remains British, his accent had changed throughout the series; in The Mummy Returns, Alex speaks with a British accent, whereas in The Mummy: Secrets of the Medjai and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor he speaks with an American accent.
Unfortunately, ethnic Egyptian actors are not represented in any of the major roles of the film. Indian-American actor, Erick Avari, plays Dr. Terrence Bey, the chief curator at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities in Cairo. Rick's main rival, Beni Gabor (American actor, Kevin J.
The Mummy 2 was never officially confirmed, but Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella were expected to continue their roles in future Dark Universe installments. Other scrapped films in the Dark Universe included Bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein's Monster, The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll & Mr.
Casting. Jacks offered the role of Rick O'Connell to Tom Cruise (who was later cast in the reboot film), Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, but the actors were not interested or could not fit the role into their respective schedules.
Summary. The marketing for 2017's The Mummy was misleading and featured unimportant details, leading viewers to have false expectations. Tom Cruise's involvement in the film was wasted as his character lacked substance and did not showcase his talents.
Unfortunately, Weisz didn't return for the third Mummy movie because she reportedly didn't want to spend time away from her newborn son. As a result, Evelyn wasn't written out of the movie but was instead recast. Maria Bello played Evelyn in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
It was those changes that led to Rachel Weisz's departure from the role of Evie O'Connell. The final draft wasn't reportedly up to her standards, and that combined with her unwillingness to leave her son for a five-month shoot in China meant that her involvement was a no-go.
Speaking to GQ back in 2018, Brendan gave a candid interview about stepping away from Hollywood, both willingly and unwillingly for a plethora of reasons, including accusations of a horrifying sexual assault by the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk.
It is also an anagram of the phrase, "Death By Ra." Ardeth Bay was going to appear in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor", but Oded Fehr turned the chance to come back as he felt without Imhotep, Ardeth would have no reason to appear.
Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
