When moviegoers went to see a special showing of The Mummy starring Brendan Fraser, they got more than they bargained for.
The actor is firmly back in the spotlight as his comeback picture The Whale is praised by both critics and the general audience, garnering many award nominations and victories, including the Critics Choice award.
Brendan was, of course, a big name before stepping away from the spotlight for a while, having been in everything from comedies to action blockbusters.
The Mummy and its sequel, The Mummy Returns, are still popular films more than two decades later, and have seen a surge of interest as Brendan makes news throughout awards season.
On Friday, the Prince Charles Cinema in London hosted a special double bill screening of The Mummy and its sequel, but just as the show was about to begin, a surprising guest arrived.
He informed the ecstatic audience that he was ‘proud’ to be introducing the film and reminding them that it, and its sequel, were made in the United Kingdom.
‘Thank you for being here,’ he said in a video shared by the Prince Charles theatre, dressed very much like Rick O’Connell himself.
‘We had no idea what kind of movie we were making when we shot this.’
He explained that they didn’t know whether The Mummy was ‘a drama or a comedy or an action or a horror picture or a romance’ or even ‘all of the above.’
Brendan stated that they only became sure of the film’s promise once it was ‘tested in front of British audiences.
‘Thank you for that.’
The actor then encouraged the audience to see his new picture, The Whale, which will be shown at the Prince Charles Theatre.
During his emotional speech, he reminisced on Charlie, the main character in The Whale, and his battle with an eating disorder, telling the audience, ‘If you suffer with obesity or feel like you’re in a dark sea…. you can have the fortitude to get to your feet and go to the light.’
Brendan previously stated that he would be open to appearing in a new Mummy film, saying, ‘I’m not averse to it.’

Speaking to Deadline, the star elaborated: ‘I don’t know an actor who doesn’t want a job.
‘I don’t think I’ve been this famous and unsalaried at the same time in my professional life, so sign me up! We’ve all got to start somewhere.’
The Mummy franchise was revived once before, in 2017 with Tom Cruise at the helm, but it did not go down well with viewers or critics.
In a Variety interview, Brendan was asked why he believed the new film didn’t work that time and suggested it was lacking ‘fun’.
He explained: ‘The Mummy should be a thrill ride, but not terrifying and scary.’