The Mummy/JAKKS Pacific

## The Mummy Returns

The cardback for this Mummy Returns action figure shows a version of Rick with a Pygmy Mummy and Alex with an Anubis Warrior that were never released

## Collectible Information

### Status

Lost (Rick w/h Pygmy Mummy and Alex w/h Anubis Warrior

## Product Information

### Year(s)

2002

Following the surprise success of an action-adventure reboot of a Universal horror film, JAKKS Pacific agreed to do the master license for a toyline to go with the sequel that was released in 2002. Though the cardback for those sets show two action figures that were conceived as prototypes yet never released.

## **Summary**

*The Mummy* is a 1999 American action-adventure film written and directed by Stephen Sommers and is a remake of the 1932 horror film of the same name. The film follows adventurer Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) who travels to Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead, with a librarian (John Hannah) and her older brother (Rachel Weisz) who accidentally awaken Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), a cursed high priest with supernatural powers. Development of the film took years as it was pitched far back in the 1980;s and several screenplays & directors were attached including Clive Barker, Joe Dante who would've casted Daniel Day Lewis as the mummy, and George A. Romero who was brought in two times. When Somerset was attached, he suggested focusing less on horror & suspense and more on an adventurous & romantic take on the source material. Principal photography took place in Morocco, the United Kingdom, and the Sahara desert where the crew endured hydration, sandstorms, and snakes during filming in the latter location. IL&M provided many of the visual effects, blending live-action and CGI to create the titular monster, while Jerry Goldsmith scored the music. Released on May 7th 1999, *The Mummy* received mixed reviews from critics, though was a huge commercial success.

Just two years later, a sequel named *The Mummy Returns* was released on May 4th 2001 which was also a financial success and mixed hit with critics & viewers, though is most notable for featuring the acting debut of professional wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who stars as The Scorpion King and would receive his own spin-off film in 2002, along with numerous direct-to-DVD sequels.   The success of *The Mummy Returns* would also inspire an animated series that aired on Kids WB for two seasons,  several spin-off rides in the Universal Studios theme parks,  a third movie titled *The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor* that was released in 2008 and featured a new antagonist portrayed by Jet Li,  and for the topic of this entry: toys.

## **Action Figures**

When *The Mummy* first came out, American toy company Toy Island (ca. 1992) was in charge of producing a toyline for it that came with eight action figures including Decapitated Mummy, Impaled Mummy, Severed Mummy, Cursed Princess, Cursed Imhotep, Cursed Mummy, Adventurer O'Connell, and Legionnaire O'Connell. They each came in blister cards shaped like a sarcophagus with the description addressing you, the reader, as the "Mummy Hunter." In addition, Toy Island released two 12" electronic figures of Rick who came with loaded firearms, and Imhotep who came with animal-head canopic jars and a knife. They also did three electronic "Re-animation" playsets that consisted of "The Tomb," "The Chamber," and "The Altar" where upon buying the trio, you could connect them and form a diorama of Imhotep's tomb; which came with exclusive figures of a mummy and O'Connell. Today, much of *The Mummy* items that Toy Island released have become rare and very expensive with online sites like eBay/Amazon being your best bet to find them.

When production on *The Mummy Returns* began, JAKKS Pacific was chosen to do the toyline for that movie and in 2001, the action figures were released. The figures came packaged in a blister card similar to the sarcophagus shape that Toy Island used, though above the clamshell window was a 3D sculpted header that looks like an Egyptian amulet or eye of some sort. The line was much smaller than Toy Island's as it came with no playsets, featured okay-than-average sculpts, and at least six figures were produced. However, only three of them were actually released which include "Sword Fighting Rick O'Connell," Imhotep, and The Scorpion King; who would also be released as a part of a "Rock Solid" Collector' Edition two-pack for JAKKS' WWE line where he was joined by a figure of normal Dwayne Johnson with a heavyweight champion belt.  When taking a look at the backside of the cardback for JAKKS' *The Mummy Returns* action figures, one can see at least two figures on there that were never released to store shelves or are, at very least, incredibly hard to find. They include another version of Rick with one of the Pygmy Mummies that attack the heroes throughout the third act, and his son Alex O'Connell with one of the Anubis Warriors that fight alongside the heroes in the climax.

## **Final Verdict**

It is unknown why Rick w/h Pygmy and Alex w/h Anubis were never released, though it may have been due to either the prototypes getting stolen or JAKKS wanting to save them for a potential "Series 2" of *Mummy Returns* action figures that never happened. Regardless, since it's been several long years, the chances of their prototypes turning up again are a long shot and will remain: **LOST**.

## **External Links**

* Biscotti, S. (2017, May 11). Bringing Back to Life "The Mummy" Action Figures by Toy Island!. *Universal Monsters Universe*.

* Biscotti, S. (2016, March 29). Jakks Pacific The Mummy Returns Toys. *Universal Monsters Universe*.

## **References**

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Mummy\_(1999\_film)#
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Mummy\_Returns
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Scorpion\_King
4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Mummy\_(TV\_series)
5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge\_of\_the\_Mummy
6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Mummy:\_Tomb\_of\_the\_Dragon\_Emperor
7. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/293304138927?\_ul=IN