Wrap Yourself In These Facts About 1999's The Mummy

"The Mummy" was a product of a major Hollywood studio in the '90s, meaning it wasn't always the most sensitive film. While the film remains a beloved favorite for many audiences, it's not without controversy over its portrayal of ancient Egyptian culture and people of color. Since the movie's release, several actors have rethought their casting. Arnold Vosloo doesn't feel he would get the part today. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Vosloo said, "If it were happening today, would I get the part? I mean, here I am — white, South African. They'd probably cast a real Egyptian."

Omid Djalili (Warden Gad Hassan) had thoughts about how he would play his role of Warden from the beginning. During casting, he talked with Stephen Sommers about playing his role as lighthearted even though the script didn't call for it, in an attempt to ensure the part wasn't offensive: "I have an Iranian background, so I was very aware that, if I ever did film roles, I had to represent Middle Eastern culture. This was at a time when there were very few Middle Eastern roles at all that weren't terrorists. Steve said, 'We're looking for kind of Rifki from Midnight Express,' and that was a Turkish warden who was really evil. I said, 'Look, why don't we play him differently because, with all due respect to you, what you've written is not even one-dimensional. I can possibly get this to a two-dimensional stereotype.'"