The cinematic world is often filled with daring stunts and action sequences that sometimes result in unexpected incidents for the star cast. The Oscar-winning actor Brendan Fraser also had a similar experience while filming his 1999 action-adventure film The Mummy. The film that went on to develop into a franchise is not only one of the best films of the actor’s career but was also considered to be one of the best movies at the time.
During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the actor recalled filming one of the scenes that resulted in a terrifying experience for him.
Brendan Fraser’s Near-Death Experience While Filming The Mummy
Starring Brendan Fraser alongside Rachel Weisz, Stephen Sommers‘ 1999 film The Mummy follows adventurer Rick O’Connell and Egyptologist Evelyn as they accidentally awaken a cursed high priest. The movie was a box office hit, grossing $416 million worldwide.
During a conversation with the host of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the actor recalled an incident where he accidentally choked out while filming the movie. The Whale star shared that it happened while filming the scene in which his character was about to be hung in a public square. He explained,
“And then the camera swooped around and I went up on the toes, and the guy holding the rope above me, he pulled it up a little higher and I was stuck on my toes— I had nowhere to go but down. And so he was pulling up and I was going down.”
The actor shared that everything happened so quickly, and the next thing he remembered was the stunt coordinator telling him, “Congratulations, you’re in the club—the same thing happened to Mel Gibson on Braveheart!” Fraser called it a “blazing start” for the movie.
The Mummy Franchise Took A Toll on Brendan Fraser
Following the box office success of the 1999 film, Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz reprised their respective roles for its sequels The Mummy Returns and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. While the franchise helped elevate Fraser’s star power, it was not a very good experience for his body.
During an interview with The Telegraph, the actor opened up about the physical toll The Mummy franchise took on him. “I got a little banged up from years of doing my own stunts and needed a surgical fix on the spine and the hinges,” he shared. The actor stated that although he believed things would get better, it took longer than he expected.
The Mummy is available on Peacock TV.
