It had been a long time in the making. Since the Ender’s Game book series came out in 1985. Ender's Game by author Orson Scott Card was a story unlike any other that predicted the internet and touch screen long before we had them regularly in our lives. The idea of Ender's Game touches on brilliance and this new movie that has been championed since the book’s publication, is set to wow audiences with some science fiction fun.
Directed by Gavin Hood, Ender’s Game is about an Earth that has been ravaged by an alien war. International Fleet is an organisation that has been preparing for another invasion. They start recruiting super intelligent children from Earth, taking them to battle school so they can be engineered for warfare. When Ender is picked, he proves the he is smarter, better and stronger than the rest and is soon elected by the military as their last hope.
She is talking about Bob Orci, another producer and creator of the movie. “The important thing is getting it right,” says Orci, “There was already a huge audience for it. Maybe not so much over here but this book is taught in schools in America. We had to get this sweeping science fiction story right to not only please fans but to get new people on board as well.”
Set in a futuristic land, crteating and adapting a world with so much technology was up to Director and Screenwriter Gavin Hood. “For me, it was always going to be difficult staying true to the book. It’s a brilliant book that created this entire land. And there is great technology here and luckily we now have the technology to replicate that.”
Of course, Ender’s Game has the help of science fiction and movie legend Harrison Ford who plays General Graff, hard-nosed trainer of Battle School. How does a return to the genre fare with Mr Ford? “It’s definitely different now. During Star Wars, we actually had the thing to hold. Now it is all computer generated. It doesn’t mean that it loses or gains anything, it’s still the same. It’s still extremely imaginative.”
“There is one scene where it is Hailee’s character asks him out,” says Hood, speaking fondly of his lead stars. “because it is here asking him out. And it is this beautiful scene by a lake and they lift off into the air. And on first take, Asa flipped right over and I thought ‘Oh no, this isn’t going to work.’ But after that, they did it wonderfully.”
Asa Butterfield has already made some outstanding movies, coming into prominence with films such as The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and Hugo. “Martin Scorsese, because they worked together on Hugo, turned to me and told me that this kid was phenomenal,” Gavin Hood reminisces, “when Scorsese says something like that, you know you’ve got a star in the making. I had to get him. And when I met him, he just transformed into the role. He was Ender.”
Casting Steinfield was more challenging, “I saw her in True Grit and her character is so refined and held back whereas Petra is much more open and loud. I didn’t think Steinfield could do it so I researched her and found this one interview where she was so bubbly and captivating. I realised how good of an actor she was in True Grit."
It’s been a long time coming for Enders Game and whether you are excited because you are a fan of the books or are really excited to see Han Solo return to the Milky Way, there is no doubt that people salivating to see the movie. With space battles, aliens, politics and kids fighting, this could set off a new series to challenge Hunger Games and Twilight. Enders Game has a collection of the world’s finest actors and has support from the beginning, investing much time in this long awaited series. Producer Bob Orci jokes “I had to sell my house.”
But will it all be worth it? We’ll see, the film is released October 25th.
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