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Ender's Game (film)

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Ender's Game
File:Endersgamemovieposter.jpg
Teaser poster
Directed byGavin Hood
Screenplay byGavin Hood
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDonald McAlpine
Edited byZach Staenberg
Music bySteve Jablonsky[2]
Production
companies
Distributed bySummit Entertainment
Lionsgate
Release dates
  • October 25, 2013 (2013-10-25) (UK[1])
  • October 31, 2013 (2013-10-31) (AUS[1])
  • November 1, 2013 (2013-11-01) (US[1])
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$110 million[3]
Asa Butterfield as Ender Wiggins
in a screenshot from film's official trailer

Ender's Game is an upcoming American science fiction action film based on the novel of the same name by Orson Scott Card. Directed and written by Gavin Hood, the film will star Asa Butterfield as Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, an unusually gifted child who is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future alien invasion. The cast also includes Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Aramis Knight, Hailee Steinfeld, Jimmy Pinchak, Viola Davis, and Abigail Breslin.

The film will first be released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on October 25, 2013, followed by release in ten other countries on October 30 and 31 (among them Australia and New Zealand), before it hits the US theatres on November 1, 2013.[1]

During production of the film, Card drew controversy over his views on same-sex marriage, including a boycott by the online group Geeks Out. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned portions of the Defense of Marriage Act and California Proposition 8, in July, Card stated that the gay marriage issue was now moot, and he is curious to see if supporters of same-sex marriage will show more tolerance toward those who don't share their viewpoint.[4][5][6][7]

Synopsis

After an alien race called the Formics (also known as the "Buggers") attacks Earth, the International Fleet prepare for the next invasion by training the best young children to find the future leader to lead the International Military. Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy but strategically brilliant boy, is pulled out of his Earth school to join International Fleet and attend the legendary Battle School in Space. After easily mastering the increasingly difficult war games, distinguishing himself and winning respect among his peers, Ender is soon ordained by Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) as the military's next great hope, resulting in his promotion to Command School. Once there, he's trained by Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley) himself to lead the military into a war that will determine the future of Earth and the human race.[8]

Cast

Further information: Ender's Game characters

Production

Development

Since Ender's Game's publication in 1985, author Orson Scott Card had always been protective of the film rights and artistic control. Card explained that he had many opportunities through the 1980s and 1990s to sell the rights of Ender's Game to Hollywood studios, but refused when creative differences became an issue.[21] With the formation of Fresco Pictures in 1996 (which Card co-founded), the author decided to write the screenplay himself.[22]

In a 1998 interview, Orson Scott Card discussed the process of adapting the novel into a screenplay. "The first decision I made was not to pursue the Peter/Valentine subplot with the Internet, because that's just watching people type things into the computer. The second decision I made was to give that information about the surprise at the end from the start. In my script we know who Mazer Rackham really is and we know what is at stake as Ender plays his games. But Ender doesn't know, so I think the suspense is actually increased because the audience knows we're about the business of saving the world and that everything depends on this child not understanding that. We care all the more about whether he wins – and we worry that he might not want to. As we watch the adults struggle to get control of Ender, we pity him because of what's happening to him, but we want the adults to succeed. I think it makes for a much more complex and fascinating film than it would have been if I had tried to keep secrets."[13]

Card submitted a screenplay to Warner Bros. in 2003, at which time David Benioff and D. B. Weiss were hired to collaborate a new script in consulation with the then-designated director Wolfgang Petersen. Four years later, Card wrote a new script not based on any previous ones, including his own.[23]

Card announced in February 2009 that he had completed a script for Odd Lot Entertainment, and that they had begun assembling a production team.[24] In September 2010 it was announced that Gavin Hood was attached to the project, serving as both screenwriter and director.[25][26] In November 2010, Card stated that the film's storyline would be a fusion of Ender's Game and its parallel novel, Ender's Shadow, focusing on the important elements of both.[27] On January 28, 2011, it was reported that Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman would be producing the work and would begin presenting the script to prospective investors.[28]

On April 28, 2011, Summit Entertainment picked up the film's distribution[29] along with Digital Domain.[30] Gavin Hood joined as director, using Hood's script adaptation,[25][26] and Donald McAlpine joined as cinematographer.[31] Creative producers are Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman of K/O Paper Products, with financial producers Gigi Pritzker and Linda McDonough of Odd Lot Entertainment.[32] The film is also being produced by Lynn Hendee and Robert Chartoff (Chartoff Productions)[33] and Card.[9][34]

Filming

Production began in New Orleans on February 27, 2012.[35][36] The film is slated for a November 1, 2013 release date.[37]

Controversy

In March 2013, some media experts said that Card, "also credited as a producer on the film, could pose a major problem for Summit as it begins its publicity campaign." Media monitoring organization GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) issued a statement critical of Card and his anti-gay activism, suggesting that the buying public may not "support his creative endeavors".[5] In July, the group Geeks Out launched a website campaign to boycott the film.[7][38] Mark Umbach, a public relations expert not associated with the film, commented "there is a huge LGBT audience for science fiction, and it's going to be hard for those fans to separate Card’s comments from his work."[5] Andy Lewis and Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "The new scrutiny of Card’s views could be a problem for the $110 million 'Ender’s Game' movie".[39][6]

In response to the boycott, Card released a statement in July to Entertainment Weekly: "Ender’s Game is set more than a century in the future and has nothing to do with political issues that did not exist when the book was written in 1984. With the recent Supreme Court ruling, the gay marriage issue becomes moot. The Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution will, sooner or later, give legal force in every state to any marriage contract recognized by any other state. Now it will be interesting to see whether the victorious proponents of gay marriage will show tolerance toward those who disagreed with them when the issue was still in dispute."[4][40][41]

Producer Roberto Orci responded in Entertainment Weekly in March that he wasn't aware of Card's views when he took on the film adaptation: "It didn't occur to me to do background checks on anybody." He said that "the movie should be judged on its message, not the personal beliefs of the original author," who had minimal involvement in the film. He also said that "If it's on the screen, then I think it's fair game."[42] Lionsgate Entertainment released a statement distancing themselves from Card, writing "As proud longtime supporters of the LGBT community [...] we obviously do not agree with the personal views of Orson Scott Card and those of the National Organization for Marriage".[43]

References

  1. ^ a b c d IMDb: Release dates for Ender's Game Linked 2013-05-14
  2. ^ "Steve Jablonsky Takes Over Scoring Duties on 'Ender's Game'". Retrieved 2013-01-30.
  3. ^ A Movie Mogul Rising
  4. ^ a b Smith, Grady (July 8, 2013). "INSIDE MOVIES 'Ender's Game' author Orson Scott Card responds to critics: The gay marriage issue is 'moot' -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly.
  5. ^ a b c Blauvelt, Christian (March 4, 2013). "'Enders Game': How Author Orson Scott Card's Anti-Gay Views Could Affect Its Success". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 2013-04-19. Several experts say Ender's Game author Orson Scott Card, also credited as a producer on the film, could pose a major problem for Summit as it begins its publicity campaign.
  6. ^ a b Romano, Aja (May 7, 2013). "Orson Scott Card's long history of homophobia". Salon. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Child, Ben (July 9, 2013). "Activists call for Ender's Game boycott over author's anti-gay views". The Guardian. Retrieved July 10, 2013. US group Geeks Out launches 'Skip Ender's Game' website, citing novelist Orson Scott Card's opposition to gay marriage {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ a b "'Full movie synopsis released for Ender's Game'".
  9. ^ a b Sneider, Jeff (2011-11-29). "Asa Butterfield locks 'Ender's Game'". Variety.
  10. ^ Card, Orson Scott (1999). "Talk City Chat". Hatrack River. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  11. ^ Card, Orson Scott (July 20, 2008). "Mamma Mia! and The Dark Knight - Uncle Orson Reviews Everything". Hatrack.com. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Sneider, Jeff (December 21, 2011). "Harrison Ford locked for Ender's Game: OddLot's sci-fi tentpole gains trio of Oscar nominees". Variety.
  13. ^ a b c Nichoson, Scott (1998). "Interviews - CARD'S GAME: An Interview With Orson Scott Card". Hatrack.com. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  14. ^ a b Ender's Game is on track
  15. ^ a b "Harrison Ford & Abigail Breslin round-off stellar Ender's Game cast".
  16. ^ "Viola Davis Joins Cast of Ender's Game Film - Theater News - Feb 2, 2012". Theatermania.com. 2012-02-02. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  17. ^ Nede, Jethro (2011-12-16). "'Ender's Game' Casts Canadian Teen Star Brendan Meyer (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  18. ^ Taalcon (March 7, 2012). "CONFIRMED: Stilson Recast in Ender's Game film". Ender's Ansible. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  19. ^ a b c "'Ender's Game' gains three new cast members". CSMonitor.com. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  20. ^ Oliver, Glen "Merrick" (May 17, 2012). "So Orson Scott Card Visited The Set Of The ENDER'S GAME Movie..." Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  21. ^ Alicia Lozano (2009-01-05). "Orson Scott Card and his world of Ender". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  22. ^ Paul Cannon (2002-05-13). "The Game Is Afoot". IGN. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  23. ^ "Card Talks Ender's Game Movie". "IGN Entertainment, Inc.". April 18, 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  24. ^ "Movie production team being assembled". "Taleswapper, Inc". February 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  25. ^ a b "Gavin Hood Attached to Ender's Game". "comingsoon.net". September 21, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
  26. ^ a b Zeitchik, Steven (September 20, 2010). "Gavin Hood looks to play 'Ender's Game'". Los Angeles Times.
  27. ^ Card, Orson Scott (November 3, 2010). "Conversations / Live Q&A: Orson Scott Card". Washington Post.
  28. ^ "Kurtzman and Orci Producing 'Ender's Game'". Slashfilm. January 28, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  29. ^ Gallagher, Brian. "Ender's Game Lands at Summit Entertainment". MovieWeb.
  30. ^ McNary, Dave (Apr. 28, 2011). "Summit plays 'Ender's Game'". Variety. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Caranicas, Peter (2011-12-13). "Bookings & signings". Variety.
  32. ^ Cieply, Michael (January 14, 2013). "A Movie Mogul Rising". The New York Times. p. B1. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  33. ^ "Lynn Hendee". The New York Times.
  34. ^ "Kurtzman and Orci Producing 'Ender's Game'". Slashfilm. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  35. ^ Christine (2012-03-01). "'Ender's Game' begins filming at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans". Onlocationvacations.com. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  36. ^ "Ender's Game Actually Begins Production". I Am Rogue. February 29, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  37. ^ Fleming, Mike. "'Ender's Game' Release Pushed Back To November 1, 2013". Deadline.
  38. ^ Quinn, Annalisa (July 10, 2013). "Book News: 'Ender's Game' Author Responds To Boycott Threats". NPR. Retrieved July 10, 2013. The queer geek group Geeks OUT is organizing boycotts and "Skip Ender's Game" events in several U.S. cities because of Card's views on homosexuality.
  39. ^ Lewis, Andy; Kit, Borys. "'Ender's Game' Author's Anti-Gay Views Pose Risks for Film". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
  40. ^ Edidin, Rachel (July 9, 2013). "Orson Scott Card Responds to Ender's Game Boycott With Ironic Plea for 'Tolerance'". [[Wired (magazine)|]]. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  41. ^ Sacks, Ethan (July 9, 2013). "'Ender's Game' author Orson Scott Card, longtime opponent of same-sex marriage, says issue is now 'moot'". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  42. ^ Boucher, Geoff (March 15, 2013). "The 'Ender's Game' controversy". Entertainment Weekly.
  43. ^ Deutsch, Lindsay (July 12, 2013). "Lionsgate responds to calls for 'Ender's Game' boycott". USA Today. Retrieved July 13, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

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