Beowulf (2007 film)
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| Beowulf | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Robert Zemeckis |
| Produced by | Steve Bing Robert Zemeckis |
| Written by | Neil Gaiman Roger Avary (screenplay based on Beowulf) |
| Starring | Ray Winstone Crispin Glover Angelina Jolie Anthony Hopkins Robin Wright Penn Alison Lohman John Malkovich Brendan Gleeson |
| Music by | Alan Silvestri |
| Cinematography | Robert Presley |
| Editing by | Jeremiah O'Driscoll |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures (US) Warner Bros. Pictures (non-US) |
| Release date(s) | November 21, 2007 (USA) |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $150 million |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Beowulf is a 2007 fantasy film directed by Robert Zemeckis. The film is an adaptation of the Old English epic poem Beowulf. The film will use motion capture techniques similar to Zemeckis' The Polar Express. Beowulf will be released on November 21, 2007. Starring the voice talents of Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright Penn, Alison Lohman, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover, Brendan Gleeson and Angelina Jolie.
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[edit] Production
In July 1997, writer Neil Gaiman wrote a screen adaptation of Beowulf with screenwriter Roger Avary.[1] The script had been optioned by ImageMovers in the same year and set up at DreamWorks with Avary slated to direct. The project eventually went into turnaround after the option expired, the rights returned to the Avary who began assembling the financing through his Killing Zoe producer, Samuel Hadida. In January 2005, producer Steve Bing, at the behest of Zemeckis who was desperate to direct the film himself, paid the writers an undisclosed sum for rights to the Beowulf script. Avary accepted the deal and relinquished the directing reigns to Robert Zemeckis to direct the film. Beowulf, estimated to have a preliminary budget of $70 million, was announced to be a motion capture film similar to Zemeckis' The Polar Express.[2] The following June, Columbia Pictures entered talks with actors Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Brendan Gleeson, and Robin Wright Penn to be cast in Beowulf. With the film having a motion capture approach, the actors would be committing to performing in a regular film rather than a computer-animated film.[3] In August 2005, actress Angelina Jolie joined the rest in the cast, taking on the role of Grendel's Mother. Producer Bing, who did not finalize a distribution deal with Columbia Pictures, arranged new deals with Paramount Pictures for U.S. distribution and Warner Bros. Pictures for international distribution.[4]
At Comic-Con International in July 2006, Neil Gaiman said Beowulf would use the voices of actors Angelina Jolie, Crispin Glover, and Ray Winstone. Calling the film as a "cheerfully violent and strange take on the Beowulf legend", Gaiman said Beowulf would be released on November 22, 2007.[5] The following October, Beowulf was announced to be projected in 3-D in over a thousand theaters for its release date in November 2007. The studios planned to use 3-D projection technology that had been used by Monster House, Chicken Little, and 3-D re-release of The Nightmare Before Christmas, but on a larger scale than previous films. Beowulf would additionally be released in 35mm alongside the 3-D projections.[6]
[edit] Cast
| Cast | Character |
|---|---|
| Ray Winstone | Beowulf |
| Anthony Hopkins | King Hrothgar |
| John Malkovich | Unferth |
| Robin Wright Penn | Queen Wealtheow |
| Brendan Gleeson | Wiglaf |
| Crispin Glover | Grendel |
| Alison Lohman | Ursula |
| Angelina Jolie | Grendel's Mother |
| Greg Ellis | Garmund |
| Dominic Keating | Old Cain |
| Rik Young | Eofor |
| Charlotte Salt | Estrith |
[edit] Further film background and buzz
- The film will employ a technique called electrooculography (EOG). This is to check dead-eye syndrome, the most common criticism of The Polar Express. The dead-eye syndrome caused characters to have a deadened 'soulless' look as a result of inanimate eyes. EOG corrects this defect by mapping the movements of the actors' eyes and eyelids using sensors placed around their eyes.
- Visual Effects for the film will be realized by Sony Pictures Imageworks, in Culver City, California.
[edit] References
- ^ Colin Covert. "The Dream King", Star Tribune, 1997-07-09. Retrieved on January 13, 2007.
- ^ Nicole Laporte, Claude Brodesser. "Sony, Bing get Anglo on 'Beowulf'", Variety, 2005-01-20. Retrieved on January 13, 2007.
- ^ Michael Fleming. "Thesp pack howling for 'Beowulf'", Variety, 2005-06-14. Retrieved on January 13, 2007.
- ^ Michael Fleming, Dave McNary. "Par, WB cry 'Beowulf'", Variety, 2005-08-17. Retrieved on January 13, 2007.
- ^ Hilary Goldstein. "Comic-Con 2006: Neil Gaiman's Future Movies", IGN, 2006-07-21. Retrieved on January 13, 2007.
- ^ Ben Fritz, Pamela McClintock. "'Beowulf' gets 3-D bigscreen bow", Variety, 2006-10-24. Retrieved on January 13, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Official site
- Ain't It Cool News - Set visit report
- Beowulf at the Internet Movie Database
- Beowulf at Rotten Tomatoes
The Lift • A Field of Honor • I Wanna Hold Your Hand • Used Cars • Romancing the Stone • Back to the Future • Who Framed Roger Rabbit • Back to the Future Part II • Back to the Future Part III • Death Becomes Her • Forrest Gump • Contact • What Lies Beneath • Cast Away • The Polar Express • Beowulf • The Corrections
| The films of Roger Avary |
|---|
| Directed: Killing Zoe • The Rules of Attraction • Driver Written: True Romance • Natural Born Killers • Pulp Fiction • Silent Hill • Beowulf |
