While many sequels and spin-offs came and went, 1999’s The Mummy will always remain the O.G. with others failing to compete with it. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz were absolutely incredible in their roles and their chemistry was off the charts. The film went on to do quite well at the box office and even though it received mixed reviews from critics, everyone will agree that The Mummy is a cult classic now.
However, filming in the scorching heat of Morocco was not an easy task and it took a toll on both the cast and crew of the film. In a clip from a resurfaced behind-the-scenes interview, Rachel Weisz opened up about the torment of filming in high temperatures for The Mummy.
Filming Brendan Fraser’s ‘The Mummy’ Was No Joke
ET Online released a rare clip of an old interview that took place at The Mummy’s set. Rachel Weisz, who played the role of Evelyn Carnahan in the film, stated that filming was extremely tough at many points owing to the scorching climate of the Moroccan locations they shot in.
She added that the temperatures rose as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit and the people would have to sit still like a lizard sometimes so that they could conserve their energy.
In the footage, Weisz said,
It’s been hard in terms of that it’s been very hot. But no, it’s been fun. The whole movie’s very very fun. It’s like a big, fun adventure romp. We’ve had real fun making it. … It’s just hard in that when it’s 140 degrees, it’s as hot as 140 degrees.
It’s just hot, hot, hot, hot, hot. You have to sit very still like a lizard sometimes, just to conserve your energy. Just ‘cause [it’s] just hot.
In the podcast Too Much Information, hosts Jordan Runtagh and Alex Heigl discussed the hot weather recalling how John Hannah (Jonathan Carnahan) admitted that the toughest part about the shoot was maintaining energy levels. The podcast also mentioned how the creepy crawlies in the desert made it even more difficult to focus on the job at hand.
John Hannah, who played Evie’s brother in the movie, said the biggest challenge was maintaining the energy level right up to the start of the scene. It was really hot out there, and the snakes and scorpions and the spiders made it difficult to keep focused and your enthusiasm.
They also added that the production created a “special beverage” that everyone drank at intervals of 2 hours to avoid dehydration.
Rachel Weisz Felt Safe with Brendan Fraser
The Mummy, which made $418 million at the box office, was filled to the brim with awesome action sequences which, let’s be honest, can get pretty nerve-wracking. In the interview unearthed by ET Online, Weisz could be seen going on and on about Fraser and how he made her feel safe, even during the filming of action sequences.
She stated that Fraser was very easy to work with and extremely funny. Weisz also complimented her co-actor’s range and added that it was a pleasure working with him.
Brendan is incredibly easy to work with. He’s just really instinctive, very funny, he’s got a huge range, I think, as an actor. It’s just been easy, really – a pleasure.
She also stated that since Fraser’s “incredibly strong” she would just hold his hand and feel safe doing stunts with him.
I think Brendan is incredibly strong…I just have to hold his hand and I feel very safe around him. You know, he’s 6 foot 2 and just very strong and I trust him so, I feel very safe doing stunts with him.
Fraser and Weisz’s on-screen chemistry was absolutely adorable and looking at the way the latter spoke about the former, we can tell that they worked well off-screen as well.
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