Showbiz Today Reports: `The Mummy Returns' Haunts Theaters
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Time for "Showbiz;" and there's a former Beatle in the news today. Laurin's here to tell us about that -- Laurin.</s>LAURIN SYDNEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, there is, indeed. Good afternoon, Lou and Natalie. Former Beatle George Harrison revealed today that he has undergone cancer surgery. Representatives for the rock star say that he had surgery to remove a cancerous growth from one of his lungs. In a statement, Harrison's lawyers call the surgery a "complete success" and say that he is recovering in Italy. The surgery was performed at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, but the representatives did not say when it occurred. Contract talks between Hollywood writers and producers resumed in Los Angeles just over an hour ago after yesterday's negotiations, which were described as "tense." The writers' contract expired earlier this week. Representatives for the two sides are trying to avert a strike by the scribes that would shut down movie and TV production. The stumbling block is pay for home video and DVD releases and overseas cable distribution. The writers are also looking for a 3 percent raise. "The Mummy Returns" wrapped production before the writers strike loomed. The sequel to the blockbuster "The Mummy" hits theaters this weekend. CNN's Lauren Hunter talked with the stars.</s>LAUREN HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: "The Mummy Returns" bigger, bolder and badder than before. It's 1933, eight years after Rick and Evie first faced the 3,000-year-old mummy Imhotep. Now the couple is married with a son, but once again it seems the future of civilization rests in their hands. (</s>BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE MUMMY RETURNS") BRENDAN FRASER, ACTOR: Honey, what you doing? These guys don't use doors.</s>FRASER: It sends them on a break-neck-paced adventure as they try to get back to the lost oasis of Ahm Shere to stop the sands of time from ending the world. (</s>BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE MUMMY RETURNS") FRASER: Oh, I hate mummies!</s>FRASER: But more importantly, getting his kids back from the evil clutches of the resurrected mummy. Wow, that was a mouthful!</s>HUNTER: The original actors are back, along with a couple of first-timers. This is The Rock's first major screen role, one he says is tailor-made for him.</s>THE ROCK, ACTOR: The scorpion king is the most brave -- bravest, fiercest, kick-ass -- excuse my language -- warrior that has walked the face of the earth. Hand-to-hand combat with one sword; and although it's 3000 B.C., there's head-butts, there's a knuckle sandwich and your occasional head chop every once in a while.</s>HUNTER: But the women share the ring as well.</s>PATRICIA VELASQUEZ, ACTRESS: We were training for like three months, and some days we'd train like seven hours. In the beginning we started training with these tridents, it was this ancient martial arts called sci (ph), and we were, like, touching like this -- and, I don't want to hurt you -- don't want to hurt you. By the end of three months, we were like... (</s>BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE MUMMY RETURNS") VELASQUEZ: That was a little something new.</s>HUNTER: And some new special effects from the folks at Industrial Light and Magic.</s>JOHN BERTON, VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR: We did about 390 shots, I think, something like that. It adds up to about 35 minutes of screen time, and it's some of the most spectacular work that we've ever produced.</s>HUNTER: But writer and director Stephen Sommers wants audiences to remember more than just the magic.</s>STEPHEN SOMMERS, WRITER/DIRECTOR: No matter how big the movie or how great the special effects, or how impressive the technology, it's all about story and character.</s>HUNTER: Sometimes, though, you've just got to go with the flow. Lauren Hunter, CNN entertainment news, Hollywood.</s>SYDNEY: And we have to go with the flow now, but we will return at 4:35 p.m. with our next "Showbiz Today" report. "Survivor 2" is down to the wire; we will have an update on reality TV. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com