Monday, April 30, 2012

WARNER UNVEILS FOOTAGE OF “THE HOBBIT” SHOT WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY

BURBANK, CA, April 24, 2012 — Warner Bros. Pictures screened approximately 10 minutes of never-before-seen footage from New Line Cinema and MGM’s upcoming epic “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” which showcased the filmmaking innovation of 48 frames-per-second (fps), doubling the typical frame rate of 24 fps. The footage was part of the studio’s presentation at CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO).

The film, slated for worldwide release beginning December 14, 2012, is the first major motion picture to be made using this state-of-the art high-frame-rate technology. 

The footage was introduced via a taped greeting from director Peter Jackson, who gave a bit of history as to how 24 fps became the industry standard and why today’s technology allows for higher frame rates. He also explained that 48 fps is actually closer to the way the human eye views the world. Jackson offered, “As a filmmaker, I always want to create a strong sense of reality, to allow the audience to lose themselves in whatever the cinematic story is that I’m presenting. Shooting and projecting at 48 fps gives you the illusion that a hole has been cut in the wall of the cinema, and you’re watching the story unfold with a heightened sense of reality. It’s terrific for 3D; I’ve looked at the 48 fps dailies for ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ in 3D for over a year now, and with the reduction in strobing and flicker, it is a much more gentle experience on your eyes. 48 fps is not just limited to 3D. A film shot in 48 fps looks fantastic when projected in 2D, and converts well to 24 fps as well.”

Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President, Domestic Distribution, stated, “24 fps has been the standard in our industry for the last 80 years, so this is an exciting breakthrough. It’s no surprise that Peter Jackson, with his commitment to innovation, is the first director to utilize 48 fps on a grand scale. It’s equally gratifying to me to see the exhibition community embrace this advancement.”

Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, Warner Bros. Pictures President, International Distribution, added, “We’re thrilled to be arm-in-arm with Peter Jackson and the exhibition community in exploring the possibilities of high-frame-rate filmmaking. The powerful combination of enduring storytelling and spectacular visuals will offer an exciting new movie-going experience to audiences around the world.”


From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of two films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey and Martin Freeman stars in the central role of Bilbo Baggins. The ensemble cast also includes (in alphabetical order) Richard Armitage, John Bell, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Ian Holm, Peter Hambleton, Barry Humphries, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Evangeline Lilly, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Christopher Lee, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Andy Serkis, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, Aidan Turner, Hugo Weaving and Elijah Wood. 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Jackson. Jackson is also producing the film, together with Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Ken Kamins, Toby Emmerich and Zane Weiner, with Boyens serving as co-producer.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is a production of New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories, as well as all international television licensing being handled by MGM. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” will be released beginning December 14, 2012, and the second film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” beginning December 13, 2013. Both films will be released in 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

EVA GREEN, A VENGEFUL WITCH IN “DARK SHADOWS”

Eva Green
Eva Green (“Kingdom of Heaven,” “Casino Royale”) stars as Angelique Bouchard, a witch who knows how to hold a grudge, in Warner Bros.' new black comedy “Dark Shadows.”

In the film, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), an 18th-century lothario, breaks the heart of a heartless witch by the name of Angelique. When Barnabas declares his love for another, the ethereal Josette (Bella Heathcote), Angelique exacts her revenge on both of them: taking Josette’s life while giving Barnabas an eternal one as a vampire. It’s not much of a life, however, as she proceeds to bury him in a coffin forever…or at least the foreseeable future.

Director Tim Burton kept asking, ‘What if there was this tremendous fight brewing between this man and woman, who each have supernatural abilities, for 200 years?’” screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith remembers. “And that’s basically what we see towards the end of the film, the tension that has been brewing for the entire movie—sexual tension, financial tension, physical pure hatred of each other. I mean, after all she did lock Barnabas in a box for two centuries!”

Angelique’s our villain,” producer Graham King says. “She just wants Barnabas at any cost and has the power to do that, so it’s a fantastic role for Eva Green to get her teeth into and she’s amazing.”

             “Everything is magnified with her—her pain, her desire, her vengeance,” Green remarks. “It’s such an outrageous character, but I don’t see her as necessarily evil. Her heart was broken, and when Barnabas re-emerges, it’s overwhelming for Angelique. She’s at the height of her power and yet she’s very vulnerable because Barnabas is her weak point. She’s convinced he loves her as much as she loves him, but he won’t admit it. She wants to own him, to possess every bit of him.”

             “Eva was the first person that came to my mind for Angelique,” Burton offers. “I was so happy to have her in the role because she ended up bringing much more to it than even I imagined. She had great ideas, was real fun to work with and surprised me every day.”

I’ve always been a fan of Tim’s,” Green says. “He’s so creative, but also open to suggestions, which is wonderful for an actor. We had the same understanding of Angelique’s character. He never treated her like a one-dimensional villain; he got her pain.”

Angelique is a woman who has changed with the times. During the 18th century, Angelique was a dark-haired servant girl. As Angie, the CEO of Angel Bay, she’s a successful blonde businesswoman. “Tim wanted her to look like the American dream,” says Green. “Everything about her is perfect. Too perfect. Perfect makeup, red lips, platinum hair. She’s very glamorous yet sophisticated. But, little by little, from the moment Barnabas escapes from his tomb, her facade starts to crack.”

 “Dark Shadows” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

“MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS” GROSSES P101-M IN 2 DAYS!


MANILA, April 27, 2012 – “Marvel's The Avengers” grossed a staggering P100.76-million in its first two days of release nationwide, according to Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines.

             The film is on track to be the biggest-grossing movie in Philippine history as it marches on to its first weekend when box-office attendance significantly surges. 

             “Marvel's The Avengers” is already ahead of “Spider-Man 3” – the country's current highest-grossing movie ever – whose first-two days gross back in 2007 was P91.71-M.

             Bowing in 467 screens, “The Avengers” recorded the biggest receipts in SM North EDSA (P6,165,744), SM Mall of Asia (P5,085,714), SM Megamall (P4,310,903), Trinoma (P3,993,746), SM Cebu (P3,360,436), Glorietta 4 (P2,839,283), Newport (P2,454,528), Gateway (P2,287,513), Eastwood (P2,249,819) and SM Fairview (P2,182,793). 

             Marvel Studios presents “Marvel’s The Avengers”—the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

             Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. “Marvel’s The Avengers” is from Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures, produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Joss Whedon from a story by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon with screenplay by Joss Whedon. 

             Now playing across the Philippines in Digital IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular format, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Marvel's The Avengers

Story: The Earth's Mightiest Heroes joined forces to fight the alien armada lead by Loki, the Norse god of mischief. Based on the comic books from Marvel Comics.

Review: After the series of movies that leads to the prelude to Avengers, the cycle is now complete. The first movie that will lead to the Avengers was in Iron Man. When Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, revealed himself to Tony Stark aka Iron Man, played by Robert Downey, Jr. and mentioned the Avenger Initiative in an extra scene. The second extra scene was in the movie, The Incredible Hulk when Robert Downey, Jr. made a surprise appearance as Tony Stark and was talking to General Ross about Stark forming a team. This movie marked the first crossover that happened in the movies. The crossover continued in Iron Man 2 when Agent Coulson, played by Clark Gregg went to New Mexico and found Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, stuck on the ground which is also part of the movie, Thor. The movie also introduced Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johannson. In Thor, a revelation the extra last scene was Nick Fury was consulting Dr. Erik Selvig, played by Stellan Skarsgard, about the Tesseract. Jeremy Renner also made a cameo appearance as Hawkeye in Thor. Lastly, was Captain America, played by Chris Evans when he was awakened by Nick Fury after they freed him from suspended animation decades later.
The Avengers first comic book appearance

The Avengers first appeared in the first issue of the Avengers. The founding members were Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man, and the Wasp. Just like the movie, the five joined forces to fight Loki. After the founding members, the Avengers has new members that come and go including Spider-Man and Wolverine to name a few. The different variety of abilities and powers makes the Avengers conquer almost any threat they encounter. These abilities ranges from the powerful likes of Hulk and Thor to the non-powered fighting skills of Black Widow and Hawkeye.

The movie deviated from the Avengers origin story in the comics to make it more appealing and realistic in a modern sense. Even though Captain America later joined the Avengers after revived him from suspended animation, they included him in the movie for a good reason. Captain America is a charismatic character and he is a good candidate for leadership to balance the different conflict of personalities that may exist among them. To many, he is the most iconic character, a living symbol not just for the country that he represents in his costume.

For the production, the movie did well in casting all the actors in most of the Marvel movies that has connection with the Avengers with exception of Mark Ruffalo, who replaced Edward Norton as Dr. Bruce Banner, the alter ego of the Hulk. What impressed me about Mark Ruffalo that he looks like Bill Bixby, the first actor to play Bruce Banner in the Incredible Hulk TV series back in the the 70's. Chris Evan is no stranger to super hero comics since he first did another Marvel Comics superhero, the Human Torch of the Fantastic Four movies.

For director Joss Whedon,  he outdid himself. I first saw heard about him as creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV series and surprised me when he was writing The Astonishing X-Men for Marvel which gave positive reviews that I always knew he can pull the same stunt with the Avengers. For now, I am fully satisfied with the movie and I won't mind if there will be a sequel since the I can now consider this Marvel franchise as ongoing like in the comics. Just like the previous movies, don't leave yet during the end credits for the extra scene. Marvel's The Avengers is now showing in cinemas nationwide in 2D, 3D or IMAX format. Just a tip. Be sure to make your reservations ahead to get the seats desired. There were already advance booking and block screening for the first two weeks. Marvel's The Avengers is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Phils. Thanks to Walt Disney Studios Phils. for the passes last April 26 at SM Megamall Cinema 6.

Avengers Assemble!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Charlize Theron Talks About Prometheus

Charlize Theron in Prometheus
Oscar winning actress actor Charlize Theron heads into space,  starring opposite Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace in Ridley Scott’s thrilling and thought provoking drama PROMETHEUS.

Shot entirely in 3D, legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott creates a new mythology in the film. He takes us on a momentous journey, posing intriguing questions about the origins of life.  The story follows an intrepid team to the darkest corners of the universe. They are embroiled in a battle of epic proportions.  At stake: the future of the human race.

Born in South Africa, Charlize Theron is one of the most diverse and engaging A-list actresses working today.  Theron was already a well-defined movie star when, in 2003, she won an Oscar for her extraordinary performance as Daytona Beach prostitute-turned-serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Patty Jenkins’s extraordinary film “Monster.”

Prior to “Monster,” Theron had already attracted stellar notices for her performances in movies as diverse as “The Devil’s Advocate,” “The Cider House Rules” and “The Legend Of Bagger Vance.”
“Prometheus” is not Theron’s first experience of science fiction. In 2005 she played the title role in the film “Aeon Flux,” based on the animated television series created by Peter Chung.

Charlize Theron reveals her attraction to “Prometheus” and her passion for the films of director Ridley Scott in the following q&a:

Q:           How did you hear about the project?
A:            I was in Malaysia and my manager called and said, “I’m sending you this script.” I’ve known Ridley for a couple of years, socially, so I knew he was working on this project. It was so secretive...I was in the middle of a rainstorm on a mountain, trying to read this script under a tree because it was the only place I could get reception.

Q:           Damon Lindelof, the screenwriter, says you collaborated with him on fleshing out the character in the screenplay. How was that process?

A:            I thought there was tremendous potential to explore themes that the script was already exploring through the eyes of a character who was so different from everybody else who’s on this mission. You have these scientists going out there – one is a believer, one really isn’t – and you play on all these themes, but to really experience all of that stuff from the point of view of somebody who comes from a much colder, more economic, ‘business suit’ sense of it was interesting.  It’s really flattering and I was very excited to be partners with Damon and Ridley and to forge ahead.

Q:           Who is Meredith Vickers?
A:            She’s very different from anyone I’ve ever played.  She’s a suit, essentially. She’s the machine that runs the machine that takes this mission into space and at first she comes across like a suit, very cold and frigid. She’s not a scientist; she’s not a believer. She runs a tight ship, but you can tell that she’s somehow going to be a problem. She’s somewhat of an enigma.  The real excitement for me in playing this character is that in the third act you really strip her from her skin and you see what her bones are about and what she’s really doing there.

Q:           Are you always looking for strong female roles?
A:            I don’t ever set out to play a character with strength. I try to find the circumstances and try to be as honest as I can in those circumstances. There’s nothing more false than stepping in the wardrobe of a character who doesn’t authentically own those characteristics. Once we all understood the world, where we wanted to go with her and what we wanted to explore with her, that seeped in and all of a sudden I put that suit on and thought, “Yeah, I want to order somebody around!” You just kind-of find it.

                Unravel the enigma that is Theron in “Prometheus” (in 3D). Now showing in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox and is distributed by Warner Bros.

THIRD “MEN IN BLACK” JOURNEYS BACK TO THE PAST

Josh Brolin, Will Smith, and Tommy Lee Jones
It has been ten years since the Men in Black were last seen protecting the Earth from the scum of the universe, and since then, there has been rampant speculation about a third film. But Will Smith says that it was always a given that there would be a third film. “We came to a point where we all felt that we had a fresh and compelling story that took the audience to a time and place they had not seen in this franchise,” says Smith. 

             In Columbia Pictures' highly anticipated action adventure comedy “Men in Black 3,” Agents J (Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back... in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K’s life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him -- secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind. 

             Of course, even as the movie explores the characters’ relationships, it isn’t a heavy drama. It’s Men In Black, and that meant it would deliver trippy Rick Baker aliens, cool gadgets, and big laughs. All of that adds up to an irresistible tone that isn’t quite like any other film. Sonnenfeld says that the key to the tone – the only way to make the movie really funny – is for everyone to play it entirely straight. “I want the situations to be funny, but the performances to be real, so I don’t want the actors trying to be funny,” he explains. “I don’t want the composer to think ‘comedy,’ because then the music will be comedy music. I don’t even want the cinematographer or the lab that develops the film to think it’s a comedy, because the next thing I know, it’ll look too bright. If I can surround the absurd situation with something real, it’ll be a great comedy.”

             Opening across the Philippines on May 23 in 3D and regular theaters, “Men in Black 3” will be distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

“DJANGO UNCHAINED” CAST AT “SUMMER OF SONY” EVENT

Leo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz
The personal appearance of the cast of Columbia Pictures' new epic adventure “Django Unchained” was one of the major highlights of the “Summer of Sony” event, held recently in Cancun, Mexico. 
 
             Gracing the event were Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington and Quentin Tarantino, who wrote and directed the film.

             Set in the South two years before the Civil War, “Django Unchained” revolves around Django (Foxx), a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Waltz). 

Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django with a promise to free him upon the capture of the Brittles – dead or alive. 

             Success leads Schultz to free Django, though the two men choose not to go their separate ways. Instead, Schultz seeks out the South’s most wanted criminals with Django by his side. Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago. 

             Django and Schultz’s search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (DiCaprio), the proprietor of “Candyland,” an infamous plantation where slaves are groomed by trainer Ace Woody (Kurt Russell) to battle each other for sport. Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), Candie’s trusted house slave. Their moves are marked, and a treacherous organization closes in on them. If Django and Schultz are to escape with Broomhilda, they must choose between independence and solidarity, between sacrifice and survival… 

             “Django Unchained” is produced by Stacey Sher, Pilar Savone and Reginald Hudlin. The executive producers are Harvey and Bob Weinstein, Michael Shamberg, Shannon McIntosh, and James Skotchdopole. 

             “Django Unchained” will be released in the U.S. on December 25, 2012 by The Weinstein Company, and in the Philippines in early 2013 by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

PROMETHEUS 3D - CREATING SHAW

Creating Shaw and Meeting Her Maker
Noomi Rapace
 
There has been a lot of speculation that “Prometheus” is a prequel to Scott’s highly acclaimed earlier film, Alien. The director wants to keep the story under wraps so that audiences view the film without preconceived ideas.

But he has admitted that there are links.  In “Prometheus,” the mission is funded by Peter Wayland (Guy Pearce), the ageing head of a huge corporation.  The action takes place 30 years before the story told in Alien.

Leading the Prometheus expedition is the character of Elizabeth Shaw, played by Noomi Rapace. From director Ridley Scott, who delivered the likes of “Thelma & Louise” and “Alien,” we can immediately expect a strong character to inhabit Shaw's spacesuit. And at the hands of Rapace, best known for her work in the tremendously-popular Swedish Millenium series, she comes alive as a new action heroine for the 21st Century.

Many characters evolve before actors are cast to play them, but not so Shaw, who was developed and refined in close collaboration with Rapace. Says Ridley Scott: “I find most of my inspiration from low-budget movies now. If we aren't watching movies, we close ourselves down. And there's a great output, suddenly, of Scandinavian films. More than a year ago I saw “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” because I'd heard it was successful. I was absolutely taken by it. Noomi was this very special little punk actress who I thought was definitely the real thing. Then I heard that she was in town in Hollywood, and I just called up her agent and said I’d like to meet her. She walked in and was a very elegant woman. I suddenly realised that I was dealing with a real actress, who can literally change her spots.”

Scott says that the approach to Shaw was intentionally very different from the approach to Sigourney Weaver's character, Ripley, in ALIEN. “We were determined to come in from a different direction because Sigourney was a kind of non-specific junior officer in ALIEN,” he explains. “What was she doing onboard? You think she’s going to die in the first act. Whereas Shaw, in this one, is a scientist that comes from the direction of, not just pure science, but actually of faith. Therefore she believes the foothold of everything is bound in the idea that we were created by something. Otherwise we’re such an accident of biology. We’re mathematically impossible, unless there was something pushing it around.”

Rapace says Shaw is more feminine than Ripley. “She's a scientist, an archeologist. I think that Ripley was way harder from the start, because she was alone. Shaw starts this journey to get with Holloway, and she loves him. They’re a team and they’re doing this together.”

Logan Marshall-Green plays Holloway. “They are a team,” he agrees. “If she’s the brains, he’s the legs. I wouldn’t go so far to say muscle but he’s the legs. He’s the one who leaps before he looks and sometimes it hurts them as a team but a lot of the times it’s helped them.  He takes a lot of chances and so far so good.  This mission is one of the chances.”

It's an attraction of opposites, he says. “As much as we're a team, we actually differ in our philosophies as to exactly what we want or we believe. She's the believer. I'm the scientist. I'm the skeptic. For lack of a better phrase, we complete each other. I think its what’s drawn the characters together romantically as well.  It’s just this kind of respect - full respect - but my skepticism matched with her beliefs, her faith.”



Executive Producer Michael Ellenberg summarises: “These two are brilliant expert archeologists and anthropologists and they identify a series of connections on Earth that seem to suggest there may be not just life on other planets, but that life on Earth might have had something to do with this other life, and that maybe they're our creators.”

Rapace reveals that Shaw goes on a journey as the film progresses. “In the middle of the movie, something happens and she becomes harder and she becomes more like a warrior,” she  shares. “She has to cut off some emotional ties to be able to survive. I think she goes from being quite innocent and full of hope and belief and going into something that is a bit darker. I think that all Ridley’s women are quite tough or they can stand up for themselves and they’re quite good at fighting back.”

Costume designer Janty Yates confirms that Rapace had a big hand in her character's costume decisions. “She always wants to be in a flight suit,” Yates laughs. “On the first day of shooting, we put her through so many different looks and so many very, very spacey looks, very, very modern looks, very French looks, very Japanese looks, all sorts, to try and get her to look timeless. And then she just said, 'Ridley, can I wear this?'  He went, 'Yes, alright!'”

For Rapace, building Shaw meant building a backstory. “She lost her father when she was quite young,” she shares. “He was a missionary and a Christian. I think if something dramatic like that happens in an early age, it’s like you have two options.  I think you can lose faith and you can go quite dark and you can start to think that everything is a punishment in a way. The other way, because she was a loved kid and he gave her the gift of belief and faith, is that she can just hold onto that and there’s a purpose with everything.”

Marshall-Green says he's had fun working with Rapace. “I rate my experience with working with actors on their work ethic,” he says. “Nobody has a better work ethic than Noomi. We got kind of thrown in to it together. We had to really show a history of being romantically and professionally linked. And I think she and I both had our eyes on the exact same prize, and hopefully it shows.”

The relationship between the two characters is, he reveals, absolutely integral to the film's themes. But rather than create it explicitly, he and Rapace have tried to imply it by infusing it with idiosyncratic detail. “Did she just feed him a frozen space raspberry?” he laughs. “Yes, she did!”

But bringing out the character's physicality also took a lot of training of Rapace's part. “When I did “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” I did a lot of martial arts,” she remembers. “I was doing kickboxing and tae bo because I wanted to be aggressive. This has been different because now I’ve been doing more running to be able to go on for a long time instead of having quick energy. I was thinking I want to be like an animal. I’ve been trying to train my body to make my body work for long so I can do long sessions.”

Embark on man’s bravest mission to a beginning that leads to an end in “PROMETHEUS 3D”!