The Mask (franchise)
The Mask is an American media franchise based on the comic book series of the same name by Dark Horse Comics. The franchise revolves around various people who are transformed into a mischievous gangster with cartoonish superpowers after putting on the titular mask and must overcome dangers that they create while wearing it. The first film, The Mask, was released in 1994 after six years of development, with a stand-alone sequel, Son of the Mask, released in 2005. An animated series was also produced and ran for three seasons.
| The Mask | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Charles Russell (1) Lawrence Guterman (2) |
| Written by | Mike Werb (1) Lance Khazei (2) |
| Starring | Jim Carrey (1) Jamie Kennedy (2) |
| Music by | Randy Edelman (1–2) |
| Cinematography | Julio Macat (1) Donald E. Thorin (2) |
| Edited by | Arthur Coburn (1) Malcolm Campbell (2) John Coniglio (2) Debra Neil Fisher (2) |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema (1–2) |
Release date | 1995-Present |
Running time | 195 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $107–123 million |
The first film was widely successful and has a cult following.
Development
In 1989, Mike Richardson and Todd Moyer, who was Executive Vice President of Dark Horse Comics, first approached New Line Cinema about adapting the comic series The Mask into a film, after having seen other offers. The main character went through several transformations, and the project was stalled a couple of times.[1]
Initially intended to become a new horror franchise, New Line Cinema offered the job of directing the film to Charles Russell, known for directing such films.[2] However, Russell found the violence of the comic to be off-putting, and wanted the film to be less grim and more fun than the source material.[3]
Film series
The Mask (1994)
Unfortunate bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) finds a magical mask that transforms him into a mischievous gangster with superpowers.
Son of the Mask (2005)
After Loki (Alan Cumming) is dispatched to Earth to retrieve the Mask, cartoonist Tim Avery (Jamie Kennedy) inadvertently uses it to conceive a child, who inherits its powers.
Future
In March 2020, Jim Carrey was rumored to be reprising his role as The Mask in both a reboot of The Mask: Animated Series (set to air on HBO Max) and a direct sequel to the original 1994 film.[4][5] These reports are currently unconfirmed.
Animated series
Cast and characters
Key
- A Y indicates the actor portrayed the role of a younger version of the character.
- An O indicates a role as an older version of the character.
- A V indicates the actor or actress lent only his or her voice for his or her film character.
- An M indicates the model served as a body double, with the actor or actress's likeness superimposed onto the model.
- An L indicates the actor or actress lent only their likeness for his or her film character.
- An P indicates an appearance through a photographic still.
- A dark gray cell indicates the character was not in the film.
| Character | Films | Animated series | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Mask | Son of the Mask | The Mask: Animated Series | |||||
| Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | |||||
| Stanley Ipkiss The Mask |
Jim Carrey | Rob Paulsen | |||||
| Dr. Arthur Neuman | Ben Stein | ||||||
| Milo | Max | Frank Welker | |||||
| Lt. Mitch Kellaway | Peter Riegert | Neil Ross | |||||
| Detective Doyle | Jim Doughan | Jim Cummings | |||||
| Charlie Schumaker | Richard Jeni | Mark L. Taylor | |||||
| Peggy Brandt | Amy Yasbeck | Heidi Shannon | |||||
| Mayor Mitchell "Mortimer" Tilton | Ivory Ocean | Kevin Michael Richardson | |||||
| Dorian Tyrell The Mask |
Peter Greene | ||||||
| Tina Carlyle | Cameron Diaz | ||||||
| Niko | Orestes Matacena | ||||||
| Loki God of Mischief |
Alan Cumming | ||||||
| Tim Avery The Mask |
Jamie Kennedy | ||||||
| Alvey Avery Son of the Mask |
Ryan and Liam Falconer | ||||||
| Joyce KurtzV | |||||||
| Mona MarshallV | |||||||
| Mary Matilyn MouserV | |||||||
| Neil RossV | |||||||
| Tonya Avery | Traylor Howard | ||||||
| Otis | Bear | ||||||
| Bill FarmerV | |||||||
| Richard Steven HorvitzV | |||||||
| Odin | Bob Hoskins | ||||||
| Daniel Moss | Steven Wright | ||||||
| Doctor Septimus Pretorius | Tim Curry | ||||||
Crew
| Year | Film | Director | Producer | Writer | Composer | Cinematography | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The Mask | Charles Russell | Bob Engelman | screenplay: Mike Werb story: Michael Fallon & Mark Verheiden |
Randy Edelman | John R. Leonetti | Arthur Coburn |
| 2005 | Son of the Mask | Lawrence Guterman | Erica Huggins Scott Kroopf |
Lance Khazei | Greg Gardiner | Malcolm Campbell John Coniglio Debra Neil Fisher |
Other appearances
Video game
A side-scrolling action game based on the first film was released for the Super Nintendo in 1995.
References
- Brennan, Judy (July 31, 1994). "'Mask' Makes Dark Horse Into Sure Bet for Spinoffs : The booming comic-book publisher gets a multi-picture deal before the Jim Carrey film even opens". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- THN Exclusive: Chuck Russell talks I Am Wrath, The Mask and Freddy Krueger Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- Shapiro, Marc (August 1994). "Mask Maker". Starlog. No. 205. pp. 32–35. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- Bone, Christian (March 12, 2020). "Jim Carrey May Return For A Mask Animated Series On HBO Max".
- Bone, Christian (November 17, 2019). "WB Interested In Doing Another Mask Movie With Jim Carrey".
- "Space Jam 2 Leaks Include Joker, Mask, Pennywise". Cosmic Book News.
- "Space Jam 2 Footage Leaks: Harry Potter, Wicked Witch, Joker, Mask". Cosmic Book News.