Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is the third film in the successful comedy film series that began in 2006. We caught up with director Shawn Levy and stars Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ben Kingsley, Dan Stevens and Rebel Wilson in London, where the new film is set.
Shawn, what was it like returning to this fictional world you created eight years ago?
There’s something about the blend of this wondrous ‘what if’ that gets brought to life in these movies. The new film also has humour and a warmheartedness that are winning and compelling. I am very conscious of the privilege to create these worlds and these adventures.
Ben, this franchise has done more than entertain – it has increased visitor numbers at the Museum of National History and the Smithsonian Institution. Now it’s set to do the same for the British Museum.
I love what these movies are about. They have become a part of our culture. It’s really fun to go to a museum and see that they have a night programme. I have a lot of people – adults – who tell me, ‘I had a sleepover at the museum with my kids.’ And I’ll say, ‘Great. Did anything come to life?’
Owen, let’s talk about your returning character – the cowboy Jedediah – and his unlikely partnership with the Roman centurion Octavius (Steve Coogan).
There’s a brashness to Jedediah that sort of chafes the gentility of what Octavius represents. There has been an arc to our relationship – we started off sort of as adversaries, and now it’s evolved into more of a team. We’re practically a buddy comedy within a funny family movie.
Steve, because Jedediah and Octavius are diorama miniatures, your scenes were filmed against green screen, without the other actors on set.
In some ways, it was like becoming a child. Even though we have to concentrate, it is like playing. And that’s the best thing about the job – you get a license sometimes to not grow up.
Dan, for one of the film’s most memorable scenes, production closed down London’s Trafalgar Square as your character, Lancelot hurtled through in full armour, riding a horse. What was that like?
Just to shut down Trafalgar Square is a feat in itself, but to have a horse run through it was a little daunting. It was really fun, though I was a little sore afterwards, especially in that suit. After four months of filming, I think I’m a couple of inches shorter than when I started. The suit weighed about 50lbs [22.6kgs] – it was a workout.
Rebel, tell us about your character Tilly, a night guard at the British Museum.
Tilly has been sitting in her booth for three years, and she doesn’t get many customers at her gate. But on this particular night, she gets a lot of action. When Tilly sees Larry [Ben Stiller’s character], she’s like, ‘Oh my God, another security guard!’ and she wants to have a chit chat. And when she feels deceived by him, Tilly goes on the attack with a hammer.
Shawn Levy: Rebel is one of the funniest actors around. She saw an opportunity to come in and just murder it and, in a kind of surprise twist, plays a romantic storyline unlike we’ve seen Rebel do.
Sir Ben [Kingsley], everybody here has talked about how honoured they are that you’ve joined the ensemble. What was it like acting opposite the other Ben?
If you can do comedy, you can do anything, and I really loved working with Ben [Stiller]. He’s very generous, a great leading man, and I think it’s a sign of confidence in the franchise that when you’re a new guy on the set, you’re welcomed with graciousness. This was a very buoyant set to be on. But it was never complacent, because you can’t be complacent with comedy.”
• Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is in cinemas now
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
SPECS
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RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800
Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed CVT
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
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Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
More on Quran memorisation:
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
