Celebrities including actor Brendan Fraser (“The Mummy,” “The Mummy Returns”) and director Jon Favreau (“Swingers,” “Elf”) walked like Egyptians through the debut party last night for the new “Revenge of the Mummy” thrill ride at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Boa boa: A belly dancer shows off her interactive scarf to a guest at the 'Revenge of the Mummy' ride debut bash, held at Universal Studios Hollywood (left).
Some 1,300 guests turned out to watch as Fraser “blew up” a wall with pyro effects in front of the entrance to the ride. Strolling entertainers included stilt-walking pharaohs, belly dancers wearing real boas, and rapidly unwrapping mummies.
Well-stocked bars helped guests calm their jitters, while the buffet line included kebabs, fragrant rice pilaf, Moroccan couscous, and breads ready to top with hummus, baba ghanoush and tzatziki.
Gatekeepers: Sentries stand guard before the entrance to the new thrill ride, one of several debuting this summer in L.A. (right)
Guests could preview the ride before it opens to the public today. The ride’s designers worked with Egyptologists at the British Museum to develop soul-chilling “artifacts,” including warrior mummies. Actor Arnold Vosloo, the “evil mummy” in the “Mummy” films, narrates the ride, which offers sand-filled tracks to muffle the operating sounds as the ride propels passengers both forward and backward.
Shooting stars: Entertainment reporters line the red carpet as celebrities including Arielle Kebbel (TV's 'Gilmore Girls') and Miguel Ferrer ('Crossing Jordan') stop by the bash (left).
