Brendan Fraser reprises his role as explorer Rick O'Connell for a third time. This time, O'Connel is attempting to thwart a resurrected emperor's (Jet LI) plan to enslave the entire human race. It's been 2,000 years since China's merciless Emperor Han and his formidable army were entombed in terra cotta clay by a double-dealing sorceress (Michelle Yeoh), but now, after centuries in suspended animation, an ancient curse is about to be broken.