Imhotep

**Imhotep** better known as **The Mummy** is a character featured in *Revenge of the Mummy* at Universal Studios Florida. He is the main antagonist and title character of *The Mummy* film franchise. Originally a high priest of ancient Egypt, he was cursed after an affair with Anck-su-namun, becoming an undead mummy that has returned numerous times in hopes of resurrecting and reuniting with his former lover. In order to achieve this, he requires human souls.

## Background

### The Mummy (film)

Imhotep was a high priest of ancient Egypt, serving under Seti I. Centuries ago in 1290 B.C., he had engaged in an affair with Seti's wife, Anck-su-namun. The two were discovered by the Pharaoh, and murdered him to avoid being punished. This backfired, and the two were eventually found guilty of the Pharaoh's death. To avoid capture, Anck-su-namun committed suicide with hopes of Imhotep resurrecting her. Unfortunately, he was caught during one of the rituals, and punished by the Medjai, a group of Seti I's bodyguards. The Medjay performed a ritual that placed the Curse of the Hom Dai on Imhotep, leaving him in a sarcophagus filled with scarab beetles. The now cursed Imhotep forever remains in an undead state while imprisoned in his tomb.

Thousands of years later, Imhotep returned after an archaeologist opened the *Book of the Dead*, once again intending to sacrifice his long-lost love, Anck-su-namun. However, he required souls for sacrifice in order to achieve this, but he was thwarted by Rick O'Connell, who with the help of his team, stripped Imhotep of his immortality, and fatally wounded him by stabbing him in the abdomen, though Imhotep promised he would return for revenge.

### Revenge of the Mummy

*Covering the background to the Mummy's fictional history in the continuity of the Revenge of the Mummy attraction.*

Imhotep's corpse came to be stored in the Museum of Antiquities of New York City. It is inferred that the mummy was brought as part of the, "Authentic Egyptian Artifacts & Treasures" exhibit, curated by amoral filmmaker/showman Carl Denham at some point after 1933, using artifacts taken from Egypt by one Jonathan Carnahan; likely including the *Book of the Dead* used for Imhotep's resurrection spells. It is likely that Imhotep was the, "Living Mummy" which Denham tried putting on display in the museum as, "The Ninth Wonder of the World".

Around the 1990s-2000s, the museum was being used to film one of the, "Mummy" franchise action films which had a CGI villain inspired by the legend of Imhotep while also using authentic props. Various locals while shooting in Egypt warned the crew about the Curse of the Mummy. The Curse of the Mummy afflicted the film shoot for the third film in the New York museum, causing set-pieces to collapse, some people to encounter mummies, and for people to be locked inside of porta-potties. Various members of the crew used the Medjai symbol to protect themselves.

When actor Brendan Fraser took the Med-Jai symbol from an assistant production-assistant named Reggie, Imhotep and his mummy followers bound Reggie in mummy wrapping. Around this time, various guests went on a tour of the museum and film-set inside of vehicles, only to encounter the bound Reggie warning them. Imhotep and various undead mummies then attempted to attack the guests to kill them and steal their souls. Along the way, Imhotep killed a ride-attendant. The guests were able to escape by passing through gates depicting the symbol of the Medjai. After this, Imhotep and/or one of his mummy henchmen brought Brendan Fraser a coffee before attacking him.

## Park Appearances

### Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue

The Mummy made appearances at the beginning of some versions of this show.

### Halloween Horror Nights

Imhotep has made various Horror Nights appearances both in his 1930s and 1990s inspired appearances. Sometimes the character of Kharis from the Mummy sequels appeared instead.

#### Halloween Horror Nights IX

Imhotep was the icon character of *Halloween Horror Nights IX* in 1999.

### Revenge of the Mummy

As the title character and main antagonist of *The Mummy* franchise, Imhotep appears prominently in *Revenge of the Mummy*, a hybrid of a launched roller coaster and a dark ride located in the New York section of Universal Studios Florida. In this attraction, no mention of Anck-su-namun is made, but it is assumed he is hoping to steal the riders' souls in order to once again rise from the dead. Much of the ride focuses on Imhotep tormenting guests through various special effects. Imhotep appears several times throughout the ride via animatronics and projected images, even killing and stealing the soul of a ride attendant when it seems for a brief moment that the ride has concluded. He is ultimately defeated by the riders, then he or one of his mummies encounters Brendan Fraser at the conclusion of the ride.

#### Sahara Traders

There are various references to the Mummy in the Revenge of the Mummy's gift-shop, *Sahara Traders*. It is referenced that the museum's egyptology exhibit was curated by Carl Denham, the amoral filmmaker from *King Kong* (1933) and that he had a, "Living Mummy" display at the museum, presumably referring to Imhotep.

### Universal Studios Classic Monsters Cafe

Many depictions of Imhotep's Boris Karloff rendition appeared in this restaurant. There was a bandaged on-set chair for him labelled, "The Mummy", multiple busts of him, a large mural of him, and photographs from the original film.

## Trivia

* In addition to being featured in *Revenge of the Mummy*, the original version of Imhotep portrayed by Boris Karloff as one of the Universal Monsters can be found at the Universal Monsters Café. This version of the character has also been featured occasionally in certain attractions of Halloween Horror Nights.
* In *Revenge of the Mummy* however, no reference to Anck-su-namun or Imhotep's relationship with her is made. It is instead assumed that Imhotep requires the riders' souls in order to be fully resurrected once more.
* In the *All Hallow’s Eve Boutique*, Imhotep holds a tray of coffee cups. One is labelled "B. Fraser" in reference to the story of Revenge of the Mummy.

## References

1. ↑ Letters and other props in Sahara Traders
2. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2022/05/photo-video-tour-in-memoriam-take-one-last-look-at-universal-studios-classic-monsters-cafe-at-universal-studios-florida/
3. ↑ https://touringplans.com/blog/the-saturday-six-looks-at-hhn-32-across-the-universal-orlando-resort-revenge-of-the-dead-coconut-club-in-3d-cabana-bay-and-more/