Rick O'Connell
Rick O'Connell | |
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(daughter-in-law) |
Richard "Rick" O’Connell is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the second incarnation of The Mummy franchise. He is portrayed by Brendan Fraser.[1] Fraser reprised the role of O'Connell in The Mummy Returns[2] released in 2001, and in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor from 2008.[3]
Fraser's portrayal of O'Connell has been well-received, and the character has been compared to the likes of Indiana Jones.[4][5]
Characterization
The Mummy
Rick O'Connell served as a
The Mummy Returns
By 1933, Rick and Evelyn are married with an 8-year-old son named Alex and live in an elaborate Baroque estate outside London, having become wealthy due to the treasure from the end of the first film. Both he and Evelyn begin to investigate the legend of the Scorpion King, bringing along their son on their expeditions, while Jonathan remains in Britain. When his son is kidnapped by sand bandits, O'Connell must race to save him and face the return of an even more powerful Imhotep. Through conversations with loyal friend Ardeth Bay, it is revealed that O'Connell is a descendant of the Medjai, the race of ancients tasked with upholding the truce between the undead and the living. Ardeth Bay uses Rick's wrist tattoo as evidence of his 'fate'. O'Connell struggles with the notion of his destiny to eternally battle mummies from all corners of the earth, while also being a good husband and father. In the end, O'Connell accepts his fate and is guided to the Oasis Pyramid, where Imhotep is planning on to gain control of the Scorpion King's evil army. O'Connell rages his way through a three-way battle that pits him between two ghastly foes and succeeds in destroying both of them, while also saving his son. The conclusion of the battle and the death of the Scorpion King destroys the oasis, though O'Connell and his family escape in a hot-air balloon navigated by his long-time friend, Izzy.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
In 1946, Rick was retired to a quiet life of fly fishing and motorcar driving in the countryside of Oxfordshire. He's bored with his wealth and status as the greatest adventurer alive. In a twist of fate however, his son, Alex (Luke Ford) ends up going to China and waking up the most terrifying mummies of the Orient. Thrilled to be a part of something exciting again, O'Connell and his wife Evelyn jump at the chance to join their 20-year-old son on a quest for Shangri-La to quell the advancement of a revived all-mummy Terracotta Army. Along the way, O'Connell fights evil Chinese nationalists with the help of the yeti.
His past is not revealed completely in the franchise. He is shown to be of Medjay descent in the second film and has stated he grew up in an orphanage in Cairo.[citation needed]
Casting and portrayal
Producer James Jacks offered the role of Rick O'Connell to Tom Cruise (who was later cast in the reboot film), Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, but the actors were not interested or could not fit the role into their respective schedules. Jacks and director Stephen Sommers were impressed with the money that George of the Jungle was making at the box office and cast Brendan Fraser as a result.[6] Sommers also commented that he felt Fraser fit the Errol Flynn swashbuckling character he had envisioned perfectly.[7] The actor understood that his character "doesn't take himself too seriously, otherwise the audience can't go on that journey with him".[8]
References
- ^ "Snakes, sandstorms, and strangulation: The making of 1999's 'The Mummy'". EW.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ "The Mummy Returns". EW.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ "'The Mummy' 3: Will it beat Batman?". EW.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ Asher-Perrin, Emmet (2017-06-12). "The Mummy Was the Perfect Successor to Indiana Jones". Tor.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ "5 Reasons The Mummy Became the Indiana Jones for a New Generation". Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ Hobson, Louis B (May 1, 1999). "Universal rolls out new, improved Mummy". Calgary Sun.
- ^ Staff (May 14, 1999). "Show Me The Mummy". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
- ^ Braund, Simon (July 1999). "Equally Cursed and Blessed". Empire.