Universal Pictures has released the first trailer forMortal Engines, the upcoming fantasy epic based on the book of the same name byPhilip Reeve. The feature has been in the works for some time and boasts a screenplay by the Oscar-winningLord of the Ringswriting team ofPeter Jackson,Fran Walsh, andPhilippa Boyens, but it’sChristian Riverswho’s in the director’s chair. Rivers began working as a storyboard artist on Jackson’sBraindeadand continued to work on visual effects and second unit directing on theLOTRtrilogy,The Hobbitmovies, andKing Kong.Mortal Enginesmarks his feature directorial debut.
The film takes place in a future world in which Earth’s cities now roam the globe on huge wheels, battling each other. Two unlikely heroes come together in an attempt to change the course of the future.
There’s certainly aMad Max-esque vibe to the whole proceeding here, with a dash ofWaterworldmixed in for good measure. This is very much a teaser as we don’t even really get a good look at the entirety of London, but the premise here is intriguing and Rivers has lots of experience handling visual effects, so I’m excited to get a closer look when the time comes for a full trailer.
Check out theMortal Enginestrailer below. The film starsHera Hilmar,Robert Sheehan,Jihae,Leila George,Ronan Raftery,Colin Salmon,Patrick Malahide,Regé-Jean Page,Stephen LangandHugo Weaving.Mortal Enginesopens in theaters on December 14th.
Here’s the official synopsis forMortal Engines:
Thousands of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, humankind has adapted and a new way of living has evolved. Gigantic moving cities now roam the Earth, ruthlessly preying upon smaller traction towns. Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan)—who hails from a Lower Tier of the great traction city of London—finds himself fighting for his own survival after he encounters the dangerous fugitive Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar). Two opposites, whose paths should never have crossed, forge an unlikely alliance that is destined to change the course of the future.
Mortal Engines is the startling, new epic adventure directed by Oscar®-winning visual-effects artist Christian Rivers (King Kong). Joining Rivers are The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies three-time Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who have penned the screenplay. The Universal and MRC adaptation is from the award-winning book series by Philip Reeve, published in 2001 by Scholastic.
On board as producers are Zane Weiner (The Hobbit trilogy), Amanda Walker (The Hobbit trilogy) and Deborah Forte (Goosebumps), as well as Walsh and Jackson. Ken Kamins (The Hobbit trilogy) joins Boyens as executive producer. Universal will distribute the film worldwide.
