STEPHEN SOMMERS (Director / Writer / Producer) reinvigorated an entire genre with the release of his blockbuster Universal films The Mummy and its sequel, The Mummy Returns.
The Mummy, an action-adventure thrill ride starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, was a smash hit. Its sequel, The Mummy Returns, also written and directed by Sommers, did record-breaking business its opening weekend, grossing $68.1 million domestically and later became the first film of 2001 to cross the $200 million milestone overseas. The worldwide box office tally for The Mummy Returns has now reached $429 million.
Not to be outdone, the DVD release of The Mummy Returns registered the biggest first week in DVD history with consumers purchasing more than two million units of a record-breaking initial 4.5 million unit shipment. Combined DVD and VHS sales of The Mummy Returns have racked up more consumer sales in the first week than any other title since Toy Story 2, and DVD sales bested the biggest DVD of all time: Gladiator. In addition to Universal’s The Mummy series, Sommers was also a writer and producer on The Scorpion King, starring WWF superstar The Rock. The Scorpion King opened at the top of the box office in April, 2001, taking in $36.1 million at the domestic box office and to date has grossed $151 million worldwide. In the wake of the phenomenal success of these films, Universal Pictures signed Sommers in 2002 to a multi-year deal to write, produce and direct films for the studio.
Sommers is also set to expand the world he created in Van Helsing with the dramatic fantasy television series Trannsylvania for Universal Pictures / Universal Networks Television / NBC. Sommers will executive-produce (along with partner Bob Ducsay) and will write the initial episodes for Trannsylvania, which is inspired by the film and will introduce new characters, storylines, conflicts and creatures.
Earlier films written and directed by Sommers include The Adventures of Huck Finn, starring Elijah Wood, Jason Robards and Robbie Coltrane; The Jungle Book, with Jason Scott Lee, Cary Elwes, Sam Neill and John Cleese; and Deep Rising, starring Treat Williams and Famke Janssen. Sommers wrote and executive-produced Tom and Huck, with Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Brad Renfro.
Sommers attended St. Johns University and The University of Seville in Spain and earned a masters degree from the U.S.C. School of Cinema-Television. Sommers resides in Los Angeles with his wife and their two daughters.
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