One star of The Mummy wasn’t thrilled about their most iconic scene.
A core star of The Mummy has revealed one beloved scene that they tried to get removed from the classic 1990s adventure movie. The Mummy movie from 1999 is considered a classic adventure reimagining of the Universal horror monster. With a cast led by Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, the movie remains a revered take on the classic monster.
However, one cast member, John Hannah, wasn’t happy about one particular scene in The Mummy. Speaking with The Telegraph, Hannah, who plays comic relief Jonathan Carnahan, revealed he was unhappy with a scene where his character pretended to one of Imhotep’s chanting zombies. He chants to avoid being spotted by them.
Despite the comedy in the scene, though, Hannah thought the moment was “embarrassing,” not seeing the comedic vision for the scene. Unfortunately for him, the moment wound up being one of the best scenes in The Mummy, earning the most positive response out of any moment in the film’s initial test screenings. See what Hannah had to say below:
There’s a bit in The Mummy I have always hated, where I’m running out of the museum to get the car, and there are all these zombies chanting “Imhotep” [the villain’s name]. I was supposed to join in and pretend I was a zombie as well, and groan “Imhotep” as they pass me, then go back for the car. I thought this was the lamest, most embarrassing thing ever. I tried to get Steve [director Stephen Sommers] to change it. But I went to one of the test screenings and that moment got the biggest laugh and a round of applause. I was totally wrong.
Hannah’s character is the comedic backbone of all three The Mummy movies, making an appearance in each installment of the series to deliver funny quips and gags. In the first film, however, his chanting with the crowd of zombies is one of his finest moments, both a funny event for his survival, and a quick-thinking means of escape.
Although the actor wasn’t a fan of Jonathan’s funniest moment, it cemented his character as a hilariously memorable part of the trilogy. It also reflects just how different this version of the movie was in contrast to the horror-centric rendition of old. The Mummy‘s funniest moments blended with action and adventure, providing a worthwhile remake of the classic film.
It’s unclear if Jonathan’s funny moments will continue in The Mummy 4, though. As of writing, only Fraser and Weisz are confirmed to be returning as Rock O’Connell and Evelyn Carnahan. Given Jonathan is Evelyn’s brother, and a classic member of the original team, it would make sense for him to return right alongside them.
Even though Hannah isn’t a fan of the scene, The Mummy‘s Imhotep chanting sequence is considered a memorable moment for Jonathan’s character. The actor may not have liked it, but it reflects how endearingly comedic his character is. Hopefully, there will be more in the fourth installment should he be asked to return.
- Release Date
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April 16, 1999
- Runtime
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124 minutes
- Director
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Stephen Sommers