Clive Barker‘s “Hellraiser III” Was Nearly a Radical Reimagining of “The Mummy“
A rejected pitch for “Hellraiser III” reveals Clive Barker envisioned a storyline deeply inspired by Universal’s classic monster film, “The Mummy,” and featuring a groundbreaking gender identity element that was decades ahead of its time in mainstream horror. The revelation, stemming from a recent conversation between Barker and Mick Garris on Garris’ “Post Mortem” podcast, underscores the creative boundaries Barker faced in Hollywood during the 1980s and ’90s.
Barker, known for the visceral and philosophical horror of “Hellraiser,” was also attached to several high-profile projects, including a proposed American “Godzilla” remake that was deemed too dark. However, his 1989 pitch for “The Mummy,” co-written with Garris, faced similar resistance. The concept centered around a Mummy who underwent a transformative journey, ultimately identifying as a transgender woman. “The little boy… who is born at the beginning of the narrative… has become this exquisite woman,” Barker explained to Garris. “And a major part of a modern-day narrative about ‘The Mummy.’ But this is our naivety, Mick. How could we ever have thought, in 1989, when we turned this in, that they would say, ‘Ah, great!'”
This forward-thinking approach to “the Mummy” wasn’t isolated.Barker’s original concept for “Hellraiser III” drew inspiration from the 1932 “The Mummy” starring Boris Karloff. The connection lies in the androgynous nature of the Hell Priest, later known as pinhead, as initially portrayed in Barker’s novella, “The hellbound Heart.” Barker believed both properties could have resonated powerfully together, exploring themes of transformation and identity.
Ultimately, universal opted for a different direction, releasing the 1999 “Mummy” starring Brendan Fraser. While a prosperous action-horror film, it lacked the subversive and progressive elements of Barker’s vision. The unmade “Mummy”-inspired “Hellraiser” remains a tantalizing “what if” for fans, highlighting the creative risks Hollywood was unwilling to take at the time.
