The Mummy (franchise)

The Mummy franchise is an elder three different series of adventure films about an ancient Egyptian priest accidentally resurrected, who brings with him a powerful curse, and the efforts of heroic archeologists to stop the priest.

Universal Horror Films

The original series of six installments, starring iconic horror actors Boris Karloff in the original and Lon Chaney Jr., produced for Universal Studios in from 1932 to 1955

*"The Mummy (1932 film)". The movie features the story of an ancient Egyptian priest mummy called Imhotep (Karloff), who is resurrected in the present day.
*"The Mummy's Hand", 1940. Not a direct sequel to the 1932 film, only the resurrected mummy theme is the same. This film features Kharis (played by Tom Tyler), another Egyptian priest turned living dead mummy. Some flashbacks, using scenes from the original film, feature Karloff.
*"The Mummy's Tomb", 1942. Direct sequel to the 1940 film. Tom Tyler is replaced by Lon Chaney, Jr. in this and the next two films. Tyler, however, still plays Kharis in flashbacks to Ancient Egypt.
*"The Mummy's Ghost", 1944. Direct sequel to the 1942 film
*"The Mummy's Curse", 1944. Direct sequel to the first 1944 film

*"Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy", 1955. Indirect sequel/spoof of the first five films. According to the Universal Horror tie-in novel Return of the Wolf Man Klaris, the mummy in this film, was a cousin of Kharis, the mummy from the previous four films.

Hammer Horror Films

In 1959 the British Hammer Film Productions began its own Mummy series.

*"The Mummy (1959 film)". Set in 1895, the film stars Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee as Kharis. The plot is based on Universal's "The Mummy's Hand" and "The Mummy's Tomb".
*"The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb", 1964. Features Dickie Owen as the Mummy Ra-Antef.
*"The Mummy's Shroud", 1966. Features Eddie Powell as the Mummy Prem.
*"Blood from the Mummy's Tomb", 1971. Based on Bram Stoker's 1903 novel "The Jewel of Seven Stars". Features Valerie Leon as the Mummy Queen Tera and her reincarnation Margaret Fuchs.

Recent Mummy Series

Originsin response, Jacks recruited horror filmmaker/writer Clive Barker on-board to direct. Barker’s vision for the film was violent, with the story revolving around the head of a contemporary art museum who turns out to be a cultist trying to reanimate mummies.cite news | last = Slotek | first = Jim | title = Unwrapping "The Mummy"| publisher = Toronto Sun | date = May 2, 1999 | ] The Mummy That Wasn't", Cinescape (May 3, 1999).] Barker's take was "dark, sexual and filled with mysticism",Hobson, Louis B (May 1, 1999). "Universal rolls out new, improved Mummy", Calgary Sun.] and that, "it would have been a great low-budget movie".

In 1999 Stephen Sommers wrote and directed a remake of "The Mummy", loosely based on the original film of 1932. This film switches genres from the emphasis on horror to adventure, concentrating more on action sequences and effects, and a higher element of Egyptian lore. The film became a box office success spawning two sequels, a spin-off series, and an animated television series.
*"The Mummy (1999 film)". Set in 1926, the movie features the story of Richard “Rick” O'Connell, who discovers the city of Hamunaptra, where the mummified corpse of Egyptian priest Imhotep resides. O'Connell returns three years later contracted by archeologist Evelyn Carnahan, who accidentally revives the mummy.
*"The Mummy Returns", 2001. Set in 1933, the movie continues the adventures of Rick O'Connell and his wife Evie, against the newly resurrected Imhotep.
*"", 2008. Set in 1946, the movie continues the adventures of Rick O'Connell, his wife Evie, and his son Alex against the Dragon Emperor (Jet Li).

:"". Produced for Universal Animation Studios to capitalize the success of the first two Sommers movies. In more than 70 years, it is the only one animation series based in the concept. It lasted two seasons, from 2001 to 2003 with a low budget.

pinoff

*"The Scorpion King", 2002. Spin-off of "The Mummy Returns"; follows the story of Mathayus the Scorpion King, the character who was featured in "The Mummy Returns". The events of "The Scorpion King" take place 5000 years before the events in "The Mummy Returns", and shows Mathayus' origins and how he rose to power as the Scorpion King.

*"", 2008. Prequel movie to "The Scorpion King". Follows the story of Mathayus before he became a mercenary.

Future

Mummy 3 Actress Maria Bello stated that another "Mummy" film will "absolutely" be made, and that she has already signed on. [cite news | author = Shawn Adler | title = 'Mummy 3' Star Maria Bello Talks About Taking Over For Rachel Weisz, Fighting An Invisible Baddie | publisher = MTV | date = 2008-03-10 | url = http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1583041/story.jhtml | accessdate=2008-04-09] Actor Luke Ford is signed on for three more films. [cite news | title = Luke Ford Signed For Three 'Mummy' Films | publisher = Bloody-Disgusting | date = 2008-07-16 | url = http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/12932 | accessdate=2008-07-20]

Other media

Two video game adaptations of "The Mummy" were published in 2000: an action-adventure game for the PlayStation and PC, [cite web|url=http://psx.ign.com/objects/014/014640.html|title=The Mummy (PSX)|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-02-21] as well as a Game Boy Color puzzle game. [cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gbc/action/mummy/index.html|title=The Mummy (GBC)|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=2008-02-21] Mummy Returns and Mummy 3 were also made into games.

The film also inspired a roller coaster, "Revenge of the Mummy" in Universal Studios Theme Parks, Hollywood. [ [http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/attr_rotm.html Universal Studios Hollywood - Revenge of the Mummy - the Ride] ] Another is in Orlando. [ [http://www.universalorlando.com/usf_attr_mummy.html Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride at Universal Orlando Resort] ]

References