The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Third Mummy film set in China with Terracotta Army.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is a 2008 American action adventure fantasy film. Rob Cohen directed it, and Alfred Gough and Miles Millar wrote the screenplay. Unlike the earlier films, this third installment of Stephen Sommers' The Mummy series takes place in China and explores the story behind the Terracotta Army. The cast includes Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello (who took over the role of Evelyn from Rachel Weisz), John Hannah, Luke Ford, Anthony Wong, and Michelle Yeoh.
The plot begins in ancient China, where the warlord Qin Shi Huang unifies the country and becomes the Dragon Emperor. Fearing death will undo his achievements, he orders the sorceress Zi Yuan to find the Oracle Bones, which grant immortality. When Zi Yuan falls in love with his second-in-command, General Ming, the jealous Emperor executes Ming and wounds Yuan. In revenge, she curses the Emperor and his army, turning them into the Terracotta Army.
In 1946, thirteen years after the deaths of Imhotep and the Scorpion King, Alex O'Connell—the son of Rick and Evelyn—and his professor, Roger Wilson, discover the Emperor's tomb. A mysterious woman attacks them, but they bring the sarcophagus to Shanghai. Meanwhile, the British government sends Rick and Evelyn to retrieve the "Eye of Shangri-La," a gemstone, and return it to China. During Chinese New Year in Shanghai, the O'Connells learn that Wilson works for General Yang and Colonel Choi, who want to resurrect the Emperor to lead China after World War II and the Chinese Civil War. Using the gem's mystical water, they revive him. The Emperor kills Wilson and escapes. Lin, the woman who attacked Alex, reveals she has the only weapon that can kill him: a cursed dagger.
The O'Connells, along with Evelyn's brother Jonathan, travel to a Himalayan stupa to find Shangri-La. With help from yetis, they hold off Yang's forces, but the Emperor learns Shangri-La's location. He wounds Rick, and Alex triggers an avalanche to slow him. Lin takes them to Shangri-La, where Zi Yuan still lives. Lin is her daughter, and both are immortal from the waters. Zi Yuan heals Rick. The Emperor and Yang arrive; he bathes in the waters, regains human form, and gains supernatural powers. He transforms into a three-headed dragon, steals the dagger, kidnaps Lin, and flies to his tomb. He revives the Terracotta Army, planning to breach the Great Wall and become in
- Release Year
- 2008
- Director
- Rob Cohen
- Writers
- Alfred Gough and Miles Millar
- Genre
- Action adventure fantasy
- Budget
- $145 million
- Box Office
- $406 million
- Setting
- China
Lore & Background
The plot follows the O'Connell family as they confront the resurrected Qin Shi Huang, the Dragon Emperor, who was cursed along with his army into the Terracotta Army by the sorceress Zi Yuan. In 1946, Alex O'Connell discovers the Emperor's tomb, and the Emperor is revived using the Eye of Shangri-La. The O'Connells, aided by Zi Yuan and her daughter Lin, pursue the Emperor to prevent his world domination. The Emperor gains supernatural powers and revives his Terracotta Army, but is ultimately killed with a cursed dagger.
Reader's Guide
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor premiered in Moscow on July 24, 2008, and was released in the United States on August 1. It received negative reviews from critics and grossed $406 million against a production budget of $145 million, becoming the lowest-grossing film in the trilogy. The film will be followed by a direct sequel to the previous film set to be released on October 15, 2027. The idea of the Emperor and his army is based on the real-life Qin emperor Qin Shi Huang, who was buried amidst thousands of crafted and fired terra cotta soldiers, called the Terracotta Army.
Did You Know?
- The film is set in China rather than Egypt.
- Maria Bello replaced Rachel Weisz as Evelyn Carnahan-O'Connell.
- The film grossed $406 million against a $145 million budget.
- A direct sequel to the previous film is set for release on October 15, 2027.
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