Luke Ford Interview - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

with Rebecca Murray

Transcript: Luke Ford Interview - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the 2008 San Diego Comic Con.

Luke Ford – 'Alex' in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Joining an established franchise, what's that like?

Luke Ford: "It was great fun. It's like winning the lotto. I was really happy. No, it was a humbling experience. Every kid in the world would want to have my job. Every 70 year old man would want to have my job. It was good fun. I had a ball and it was great to learn all the martial arts and throw myself into everything. Yeah, it was fun."

What was the martial arts practice like?

Luke Ford: "It was a pub brawl. No, I'm only joking. It was four months worth of five hours a day training in like Tae Kwon Do, Wushu, all kind of hand martial arts. I did it for… I got okay with it because I started off learning how to slap. That was me."

How to slap?

Luke Ford: "Yeah, I was a slapper. Like if got in a fight, I'd slap someone."

I don't think you should admit that.

Luke Ford: "'I told you!' So then it was easy. You just had to learn how to change it into a fist and then all went well. It was good fun."

And you're an adventurer in this so how did you get into that part of the character?

Luke Ford: "Well, we shot in Montreal first so I kind of went and went into the Notre Dame church and tried to find a trap door. And then I walked around the city like I was trying to make a discovery. Then in China I climbed the Great Wall of China up until the point where you can't go any further, and then I tried to go further – until I got arrested."

Did people look at you strange as you're doing all of this?

Luke Ford: "Yeah, a little bit. A little bit, especially when I was trying to climb the stairs of the church in Notre Dame. They're like, 'No, no, no. No entry.' And I go, 'Mais oui, mais oui,' because that's all I know in French. 'Mais oui.' He goes, 'No, no, no.'"

So how much did you learn from Brendan [Fraser] in this?

Luke Ford: "Oh, a lot. Brendan's the green screen king. He's the number one green screen actor in the world, I reckon. He's done a lot so… You know, he was professional and he was good fun. He was also a good friend so it was quite easy to just jump into it, you know, and do a good job of it. He made sure he looked after me and helped me out. The first day of filming he's like, 'Luke, I am your father.' And so it was pretty easy."

And Mummy 4?

Luke Ford: "Well, we'll see what happens. You've got to wait to see how Mummy 3 does."

But you're ready for it?

Luke Ford: "Oh yeah, I'm ready. I'm keeping my martial arts up and stretching, which is the most important part – which is a nauseating experience. But, you know, I'm there. I could give birth maybe."

More on The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor:

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Photos

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Trailer, Video Clips, Posters, and Cast Interviews

More on The Mummy Star Brendan Fraser

Video Channels

• Autos
• Business & Finance
• Cities & Towns
• Computing & Tech.
• Electronics & Gadgets

• Entertainment
• Food & Drink
• Health
• Home & Garden

• Parenting
• Sports
• Style
• Travel