Dwayne Johnson made the seamless transition from the wrestling ring to the Hollywood big screens with his debut film The Mummy Returns. The cult classic also starring Brendan Fraser, was the sequel to the equally successful predecessor, The Mummy. The film went on to become one of the highest grosser of the year and kickstarted a successful career for Johnson as an action star.
The Mummy Returns was a stepping stone to many prominent roles that Dwayne Johnson portrayed which included films like Jumanji 2, The Fast and the Furious 8, and his entry into the superhero universe with Black Adam. But there was a time when the adventure film almost did not make it to the big screen.
The Mummy Returns Almost Did Not See The Light Of Day
Dwayne Johnson’s portrayal of the mighty Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns catapulted the action star into the big leagues in Hollywood. But the film which gave The Rock his first break almost did not get made. Director Stephen Sommers was reportedly not on board with continuing the franchise after the first film, saying that sequels of films usually did not work well. The film’s lead actor Brendan Fraser too expressed his skepticism over certain aspects of the first film, which also involved dangerous stunts.
“The original script was a bit reckless. The characters related to one another a bit awkwardly. And the dialogue needed to be pared down. But it really was okay in the end,”
Despite these alleged shortcomings, the stupendous success of The Mummy coupled with the novelty of casting a wrestling champion like Dwayne Johnson, was incentive enough for Sommers to go ahead with The Mummy Returns.
Dwayne Johnson Justified His Casting In The Mummy Returns
Casting a debutant with no experience in the entertainment business in a sequel to a successful film was a big risk. But in The Mummy Returns, Dwayne Johnson proved that with drive, hard work, and commitment, anything was possible. The production house was apparently so impressed with his abilities that they asked director Stephen Sommers to start working on a prequel, The Scorpion King before the film was even completed.
The Scorpion King provided Johnson with his first leading role which became a stepping stone for the actor to sign on more significant characters in future films. With his performance in The Mummy Returns, Johnson also earned a huge number of fans apart from sports enthusiasts who followed his wrestling career. The actor also stated that it was extremely humbling to earn a paycheck of 5.5 million dollars for what was not even considered his primary profession.
Source: Cheatsheet
