Arnold 'Mummy' Vosloo filming in Cape Town

2001-05-24 14:01

Willemien Brummer

Cape Town û "When I arrived in the Mother City for the first time in fourteen years, the first thing that struck me was that Cape Town still smells like Cape Town," actor Arnold Vosloo said on Wednesday, speaking pure Afrikaans on the set of Manhunt, a film made for television.

Vosloo, who arrived here a week ago, left the country 12 years ago in search of Hollywood fame and glory.

Filming started last Saturday and Manhunt features stars like Richard Chamberlain, Michael Ironside, Joe Penny and Vosloo. Vosloo (41), who gained fame as "Boetie" with Janie du Plessis in the film Boetie gaan Border toe, has a lead role in Manhunt. He recently appeared in the title role of the blockbuster The Mummy. Its sequel The Mummy Returns broke several box office records when it earned R500 million during its first week's screening in May in the US.

A relaxed Vosloo said it was wonderful to be in the Cape since he is congratulated wherever he goes. "They say I'm doing them proud because I'm a boer. It's good to know the 'boere' are still interested."

Although Vosloo has no plans of returning permanently to South Africa, he is considering buying property in Cape Town where he and his wife can come for a two to three months' rest. "Or I might even buy something in the Karoo where nobody can reach me with either books, pens or cameras," he added jokingly.

The Americanised star maintains European and American film producers are only just starting to discover the Cape as a film destination. "Who knows, in a few years' time they might even start shooting Hollywood hits here," he said.

On Wednesday the film set was located at a warehouse in Epping which had to serve as a Russian warehouse where international terrorists were making a devastating bomb. Other big names present on the set on Wednesday included Michael Wincott of The Spider fame and Joe Penny.

Johan Kruger of local film company Philo Films and line producer of Manhunt said filming runs into about R600 000 a day and the total budget is in the vicinity of R60 million. The thriller is intended for the US and German television market and could boost the local economy by millions of rands and create 2400 job opportunities.

Kruger added that the film, which employs 40 South Africans with talking roles and about 2000 extras would inject about R60 million into the local film industry. Filming in Cape Town ends by June 30.

- Beeld