Stephen Sommers

**Stephen Sommers** (born March 20, 1962) is a _renowned American film director, screenwriter and producer_, famous for high-budget action movies like *The Mummy* (1999), its sequel *The Mummy Returns* (2001), *Van Helsing* (2004), *G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra* (2009). He has also lend his talents to movies like *The Adventures of Huck Finn* (1993), Disney's live action version of Rudyard Kipling's *The Jungle Book* (1994), and the action-horror film *Deep Rising* (1998). Born in Indianapolis and raised in St. Cloud, Minnesota, he commenced his career early, performing as an actor in theater groups and managing rock bands throughout Europe after graduation. Afterwards, he moved to Los Angeles, attending the USC School of Cinematic Arts, creating award-winning short film, Perfect Alibi. Following Perfect Alibi, Sommers made his first feature film, *Catch Me If You Can*, using independent funding. This teen racing film shot in his hometown of St. Cloud went on to be sold at the Cannes Film Festival for $7 million. He then turned to adapt literary classics like Mark Twain's *Adventures of Huck Finn* and Rudyard Kipling's *The Jungle Book* for Walt Disney Pictures. His smash hit The Mummy in 1999 earned him two Saturn Awards nominations and was followed by another success The Mummy Returns. Sommers also founded his own company, The Sommers Company and has been involved in a legion of projects ranging from TV series to remakes of popular movies.