Brendan Fraser explains why he didn’t speak to The Rock while filming The Mummy Returns

Brendan Fraser has revealed that he didn’t speak to The Rock during the filming of The Mummy Returns.

While co-stars are perhaps known for bonding on set, the same can’t be said for Fraser and the wrestler who was making his Hollywood debut.

During an interview on The Drew Barrymore Show, Fraser spoke about the infamous 2001 movie.

While discussing all things CGI, Barrymore admitted she would struggle to film the genre as she can't act alongside a 'tennis ball'.

To which The Whale actor replied: “I happen to be really good at it. [Do] you know why? Because in The Mummy Returns, Dwayne Johnson was just a piece of tape on a stick.”

So, there you have it; the two weren’t even in the same room. The magic of computers, people!

However, The Rock’s lack of presence proved difficult for the crew.

The Mummy Returns visual effects artist John Berton Jr recently opened up about why the Scorpion King looked more like a melted wax figure at Madame Tussauds.

While speaking on the VFX Artists React to Bad & Great CGI series, Berton reflected on how it was challenging to work around the actor’s busy wrestling career during production.

He said: "This isn’t really an excuse, but it’s an explanation of the way things work in movies sometimes.

"We asked for that of course, we needed a day with Dwayne Johnson to photograph his face and eye detail and all the stuff you would do.

“Because he was busy with his incredible WWE career, that was not possible.

"We had him for like three days maybe in Morocco to shoot his scenes.”

No wonder he was 'tape on a stick'.

The graphics animator and visual effects supervisor also spoke of the pressure of working on a high-budget sequel.

He said: “I think if you had all that stuff, the animation would work better because it’s meant to be a little cartoony here and I think that informed our decisions about whether or not the shots were done and ready for the movie was that there was an expectation at the time of this needing to reach a certain level.”

But, despite feeling it wasn’t his best work, the film went on to earn $435 million (AUD $625m) worldwide.

I mean, not too shabby.