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The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,[2] is an American upcoming film that follows up The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. It is slated for a August 1, 2008 release.

Plot
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor will initially take place in ancient times in China and follow the background of the film's villain, China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang (played by Jet Li). The film will move forward to a post-World War II setting where Rick and Alex head to the forbidden tombs of China. In the Himalayas they discover a mummy that can change forms due to a female wizard's (Michelle Yeoh) curse.


[edit] Cast
Brendan Fraser as Richard "Rick" O'Connell
Jet Li as Emperor Qin Shi Huang
Maria Bello as Evelyn Carnahan-O'Connell
Michelle Yeoh as Zi Yuan
John Hannah as Jonathan Carnahan
Luke Ford as Alex O'Connell
Isabella Leong as Lin
Anthony Wong Chau Sang as General Yang[3]
Wu Jing

[edit] Production
In November 2001, director Stephen Sommers, who directed the previous Mummy films, said about directing a third Mummy film, "There's a demand for it, but most of the gang would only be up for it again if we could find a way to make it bigger and better."[4] In May 2004, Sommers expressed his doubts about having the energy to make a third Mummy, though the cast of previous films had expressed interest in returning.[5] In December 2005, a review of a script written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar was about a Chinese mummy (China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang), who wants to take over the world with his army of accursed warriors in 1940.[6]

In March 2006, actor Oded Fehr said Sommers had told him a third film was in development and being written, with only Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz's characters returning for the sequel.[7] The following September, director Joe Johnston was offered the helm by Universal Pictures, who hoped to start filming early in 2007.[8] Later in the month, actress Rachel Weisz expressed interest in reprising her role.[9]

In January 2007, Universal announced that Stephen Sommers, director of the first two Mummy films would not be attached to direct the third film. It was then announced that Universal entered talks with director Rob Cohen to take the helm from Sommers as the director of the third Mummy which is to be released by 2008.[10] Later in the month, the story was revealed to center around Brendan Fraser's and Rachel Weisz's characters, as well as their now grown-up son. Negotiations with the actors are in progress.[11] In February, casting began for the role of Alex O'Connell, the son of Fraser and Weisz's characters initially introduced as an 8-year-old in The Mummy Returns. In addition, the character of Jonathan, Evy's brother and previously portrayed by John Hannah, will return for the sequel.[2] Also in February, director Rob Cohen mentioned [12] that Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh will star in the movie although the official confirmation was not published until May [13].

In April, actor Brendan Fraser re-joined the cast for The Mummy 3, though actress Rachel Weisz would not be re-joining.[14] The film will be shot in Montreal[15] and China. The movie was reported to be titled The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.[16] In April, actor Luke Ford was cast as Alex O'Connell,[17] and in May, actress Maria Bello was cast to replace Weisz in the role of Evelyn.[18]



Director Rob Cohen has updated his official blog with another behind the scenes video, which features Brendan Frasier in action, along with the first glimpse of Luke Ford, who plays Frasier's son. In addition, the crew talks about some of the difficulties they faced with a production of such magnitude.

In the Far East, trouble-seeking father-and-son duo Rick (Frasier) and Alex O'Connell (Ford) unearth the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin (Jet Li) -- a shape-shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard (Michelle Yeoh) centuries ago.

Cohen's credits include action films like "Daylight," "The Fast and the Furious" and "XxX." Unfortunately, he is also the man behind "Stealth." "The Mummy 3" is scheduled to hit theaters on August 1st, 2008.


Director Rob Cohen has posted a production update and the first shot of Jet Li from the upcoming "The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." Here is what Cohen had to say:

"Today, I shot Jet Li on his black stallion riding into battle in his jade armor. He looked nothing short of an Emperor. He has been totally professional and warm to me and the entire crew, like the prince he truly is.


As to the music: guys, trust me. Randy and I have done two classic scores (DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY and DRAGONHEART) that continue to be used in trailers and commercials a decade and a half later. This will be an original score with new themes, played by the London Symphony Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studios. There will nothing "synth paddy" about it. It will be massive, thematic, and pulsing. I have great respect for Al Silvestri but this is a new, re-booted "Mummy" and it will have the score to match."


Director Rob Cohen updated his blog with a few notes regarding the production of "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." Here is what Cohen had to say:

"The dawn is breaking over the Great Wall, the original wall made of tamped earth that towers across the horizon. The sun is real; I had the wall built. Soon Jet Li, the Dragon Emperor himself, will mount a 50-foot high colossus of himself to wake his 5,000 Terracotta Warriors from 20 centuries underground and lead them in one final battle against the O’Connell’s and the Mystical Forces of his ancient enemy played by Russell Wong who has been raised by Michelle Yeoh. Armies will clash. Good vs. Evil. The living vs. the Undead."


In the Far East, trouble-seeking father-and-son duo Rick (Brendan Frasier) and Alex O'Connell (Luke Ford) unearth the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin (Li) -- a shape-shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard (Michelle Yeoh) centuries ago.


Maria Bello, who co-stars in the upcoming sequel film "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," told SCI FI Wire that she plays a different version of the character originated by Rachel Weisz. Speaking at the Toronto International Film Festival, she said that she dyed her normally blonde hair auburn for the sequel. "Yeah, it's for a film role. It's for Mummy 3, and I love it," said Bello.

"She has the same name, but she's a very different character than Rachel played," she continued. "She's a bad-a** action chick. I had to train a lot. I had to do wushu, a martial-art form, some kick-boxing, swordfighting, rifle training for a couple of months before we even started shooting." Bello added: "It's the role of my dreams. It is just a blast."

Bello will soon join co-stars Brendan Fraser and Jet Li for two months of shooting in China.


According to ComingSoon, Universal Pictures has swapped the release dates for "The Mummy 3" and "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army." "Hellboy" is now scheduled to hit theaters on July 11th, 2008, while "The Mummy" will follow on August 1st, 2008.


According to the site, the new name of the third installment in "The Mummy" franchise is now "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," which refers to the shape-shifting mummy (Jet Li), which was unearthed by the O'Connell father/son team, played by Brendan Fraser and Luke Ford.

Rob Cohen is set to direct "The Mummy 3"; his credits include action films like "Daylight," "The Fast and the Furious" and "XxX." Unfortunately, he is also the man behind "Stealth."