I never want to write something until I know every scene in the movie. I don’t want someone hiring me and then me not being able to write it. Which is always a fear. So I like to figure it out, know all the characters, and know almost every scene in the movie before I start writing.

I think if you’re going to kill somebody, kill them! Don’t stand around talking about it!

I wanted to make a small movie about a guy and a girl on the beach, but then I thought, wouldn’t it be cool if a werewolf was there?

The best scary movies have great humor in them and a great story.

I went in right up front and said, This can't be about some guy in bandages. I didn't even want to do a horror movie. I took the concept and made a romantic adventure film. I like action heroes who don't take themselves too seriously. I wanted to make everyone take the mummy seriously, but it couldn't just be a guy in bandages. But the main thing was to build in surprises. That's one of the great things you can do with special effects.

I love all of mythology and rules pertaining to all of the monsters, but I like to go the extra step.

I never want to write something until I know every scene in the movie. I don't want someone hiring me and then me not being able to write it. Which is always a fear. So I like to figure it out, know all the characters, and know almost every scene in the movie before I start writing.

I wanted to make a small movie about a guy and a girl on the beach, but then I thought, wouldn't it be cool if a werewolf was there?

I hope in my career I get to do every kind of movie. When I did Huck Finn, I got all those Disney kid scripts. When I did Jungle Book, then I got all the animal scripts. Now I do a couple Mummy movies and it's like, 'Oh, he does monsters.

The key to humor in a horror film is that it has to be organic. It has to be organic to the situation.... if you know you're doing anything to get a laugh, or anything to scare people - that's great. But to try to get people to do both - to try to get people to scream in horror, and a moment later burst out laughing - I think that's a neater trick.