While the latest Ridley Scott epic EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS isn’t due to hit theatres until December 12th, we at JoBlo.com had the opportunity to get a sneak preview, and wow, is this flick going to be massive! In a packed Zanuck Theatre on the Fox lot, they presented the audience with a few select scenes, and once again this talented director proved to be a master at using 3D technology. With an all-star cast including Christian Bale as Moses, Joel Edgerton as Rhames, Ben Kingsley as Nun, Sigourney Weaver as Tuya, and so many more, it’s a safe bet that this big-budget Biblical tale will easily find its audience.
Producer Jenno Topping introduced the evening, explaining that with fifteen hundred visual effects shots, six 3D cameras running at all times, and a surprisingly short seventy-four day shooting schedule for a film of this scale, it is hard to imagine anyone besides Scott taking this on. Of course we were told that many of the effects weren’t complete and that the music score was only temporary, but in many ways the footage presented reminded me of Scott’s take on ROBIN HOOD visually speaking – although on a much grander scale.
We were shown about 37 minutes of footage with scenes representing the complicated relationship between Moses and Rhames. With impressive panoramic shots of ancient cities and eloquently staged battle sequences, the actors do well enough in the midst of this monumental production. The highlight of the sequences shown had to be four of the ten on-screen plagues, including turning the waters to blood, and bringing on a swarm of locust, frogs and other creatures. Add to that what will certainly be the most impressive parting of the Red Sea imaginable. Ridley Scott ably puts the visual effects – at least what was completed – and the 3D CGI to glorious life. And lastly we witnessed the upcoming trailer which you can check out for yourself below.
After the footage, Christian Bale took the stage for a short Q & A with Dave Karger from Fandango. The two discussed what the actor knew about Moses, which was basically “Charlton Heston.” He did read a number of books on the subject including the Torah, the Quran, as well as “Moses: A Life” by Jonathan Kirsch. He added that he didn’t read the material, “All in one go.”
He went on to chat about what he found interesting about his seemingly intensive research.
“The big one for me, other than realizing that I really had no idea about Moses at all, was just how complex of a character he was. He really was a very troubled and tumultuous man, very mercurial. But the biggest surprise for me was the nature of God, that he equally was very mercurial.”
In regards to working with Ridley Scott:
“[It started with] admiration on my end for him as a filmmaker. I’d worked with a number of actors who worked with Ridley, and they said to me that we should work together. So Ridley and I met up and talked a little about working together. That was about four or five years ago and then he turned up and said, I’ve got something… It’s Moses.”
When asked about his cinematic research he offered up a couple of inspired choices.
“The very first film that I rented immediately after a meeting with Ridley and whilst I was still trying to get my head wrapped around it was LIFE OF BRIAN, which is a real favorite film of mine. It’s a beautifully made film. But the point being was not only did I enjoy that film a great deal, but anything where you are approaching a film from a very earnest point of view can unintentionally become LIFE OF BRIAN. So it was a guiding light throughout for me.”
He then added:
“Immediately after that I rented Mel Brooks HISTORY OF THE WORLD: PART 1.”
He did of course watch THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, but with a stipulation.
“You can’t ‘out Heston’ Charlton Heston.”
When it came to an early meeting with Ridley Scott after reading the script, he wasn’t quite in the right shape to portray Moses.
“I was making AMERICAN HUSTLE when Ridley was sending me Steve’s [Zaillian] script. And then when I first got back from Boston, I went in to see Ridley and my head was absolutely shaved right down to the scalp. And I still had all that girth. He really tried to not show a look of absolute horror at who he had cast.”
As impressive as the cast may be, this talented actor offered this:
“I think it’s a fantastic cast. I very much enjoyed working with Joel, who was sort of the constant throughout. There were so many good actors, but I really enjoy when you are working with actors whose names you wouldn’t know. I’ve always enjoyed that as much as possible. As another actor, when you know very little about somebody, it’s a very nice thing because it isn’t predictable.”
When asked which of Ridley Scott’s features are his favorite:
“The one that keeps coming into my head is ALIEN. But that was also because it was a lot of fun watching it with my friends. It was a lot to do with the evening as well. He’s done so many wonderful films but that’s the one that keeps going into my head right now.”
EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS will be making its way into theatres this coming December 12, 2014. Check out the new trailer below!