Post23 Shares "Making of Ender's Game - The Mind Game"

Post23, the Barcelona-based VFX and post-production house responsible for the mind game sequence in Ender's Game, recently shared this incredible behind-the-scenes video of the creation process.

Check out more concept art and fun production photos at the source!

Thanks, Fernanda!

Ender's Game Review: A Beautiful, Moving Adaptation

Gavin Hood is a true fan. He filmed an unfilmable story and he did it very, very well.

As you all probably know, I've been following this movie since principal production began in New Orleans. I visited the set in May of 2012 and left completely convinced that I had no reason to worry; Ender's story was in the hands of a group of fans and I believed there was no way I'd be disappointed come November. The closer we got to release, though, the more I began to contemplate what I would write on Ender News if I disliked it. Would I need to remain positive? Fudge the truth or be completely honest?

Fortunately I don't have to make that decision.

Crystal from EnderWiggin.net, Asa Butterfield (Ender), and Kelly (me!) from Ender News

I loved this film. I found it to be a beautiful, moving adaptation with the heart of the story and most of the key plot points preserved. It was entertaining, emotional, and the twist was done so well that even I -- who knew what was coming -- inhaled sharply when all was revealed.

First off, Asa Butterfield makes a moving, authentic Ender. I never doubted that he would be a convincing child genius but, as a smaller-framed actor, I was slightly afraid that he wouldn't be able to pull off that Peter-esque aggressive streak. However, he manages -- and very convincingly. And since the movie was filmed mostly in chronological order, you can definitely see him age and grow as time in the film passes which adds to his performance. He was vulnerable, he was intense, he was Ender. Butterfield absolutely killed it.

And then, the visuals: altogether it is a stunning visual experience. Garrett Warren's take on weightlessness is not only believable, but beautiful as well. While there are more Battle Room scenes than I actually thought we would get, you can't help but sigh when Ender heads back to Earth, knowing our time in null-g is over. The Command School training scenes are also impressive; everyone needs to see this film in IMAX just to experience Ender's first go at the simulator. When he raises his arms to pull his fleet forward, your heart will skip a beat.

Eros display at the premiere after-party

One thing that surprised me the most is that a great deal of the first half of the movie is surprisingly funny. Aramis Knight (Bean) quips a particular one-liner that had the entire audience roaring and he displays a sort of sure-footed cockiness in the film that suited his character very well. Moises Arias, too, garnered lots of laughs: while I never pictured Bonzo as AMUSING, the character is handled well. He's believable, albeit a little bit ridiculous, and a mere look from Fly Molo (Brandon Soo Hoo) or Petra (Hailee Steinfeld) tell us they feel so as well. Before Monday, I agreed with those who believed he was miscast but I was wrong; he ended up being one of my favorite parts of the film.

It's true that the story rockets along at an almost neck-breaking pace, and that this is what might make many plot points lost on members of the audience who haven't read the book. It also prevents any real character development apart from Ender and thus it's never really clear that those Battle School kids who make it all the way to Command School are the ones Ender trusts most -- except perhaps Petra.

However, I think my one real complaint is that while Jimmy Jax Pinchak was convincing in the very brief time we spend with him, his character in the film is a beautiful bully and nothing more: we are given no evidence that Peter is anything besides jealous and a bit unhinged. When we spoke to Gavin Hood at the set visit, he assured us Peter's better qualities would be displayed at some point in the film and his motivations would become clear; however, we see none of the "tough love" the director spoke of. While it seems likely this was a decision made in the editing room, it was a decision that cut Peter and perhaps any possible sequel off at the knees.

But book-to-movie adaptations are hard and these decisions have to be made. I've been an avid reader since well before kindergarten when I figured out those squiggly lines were letters which turned into stories which could one day hit the big screen. I knew there was always a chance that something could be lost in translation. But this one of the best adaptations I've seen in a while and I am immensely grateful to Gavin Hood, the producers, and the cast for coming together to create something that stayed true to the spirit of Ender's Game.

It's been a wild ride these past two years but the end result was utterly worth it.

Ender's Game Red Carpet Interview: Gavin Hood (Video)

It is just always such a pleasure to talk to this man. His excitement for this project knows no bounds and I am honored to have met him.

IGN Ender's Game Special Podcast

IGN UK Podcast put up an Ender's Game Special today featuring a 25-minute interview with Ender's Game director Gavin Hood and producer Bob Orci.

IGN UK Podcast #203: Ender's Game Special

It's really good stuff, they cover a lot of different topics in this interview, you should listen to it. I am always again amazed how perfect Gavin Hood's language is when he's talking freely. You can put his words on paper without any bit of editing, and he has always something interesting to say.

If you like this podcast and have some appetite for more, make sure to check out EnderCast with our very own Kelly and EnderWiggin.net's Crystal.

EN Gift Shop - New Releases for October

Since we launched our Ender News Gift Shop back in August, plenty of new Ender's Game and related items have been released, and it's about time for an overview of the best ones out there.

The shop's inventory is entirely hand-picked by Ender News staff members (with community recommendations) and will always be evolving: new products will be added as they become available, from official Ender's Game merchandise to unique products we find or are suggested by other Launchies like yourselves!

By buying gifts, books and merchandise through our Ender News Gift Shop you will help Ender News' staff covering parts of the cost for Ender's Game related travels, hotels and all that, and we are very grateful if you do. Thank you!

Ender's Game: Inside the World of an Epic Adventure

A must-have! With a forward by director Gavin Hood, this companion book delves into the movie's production process and contains tons of interviews, removable posters, army badges, and fun behind-the-scenes images from filming! Watch out for our extensive review in the next couple of days!

Current price: $27.00
released on October 15, 2013
order here

Ender's Game (Movie Tie-In)

Special movie tie-in paperback edition, released on October 1, 2013. Orson Scott Card's classic Science Fiction novel about a brilliant young boy, Andrew 'Ender' Wiggin. Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards.

Current price: $6.78
available now
order here

Ender's Game Soundtrack

The official soundtrack album for Ender's Game will be released on October 22, 2013 and is now available for pre-order. The CD features 21 tracks from "Ender's War" to "Commander", composed by Steve Jablonsky. Read more and listen to sample tracks here and here!

Current price: $14.99
released on October 22, 2013
order here

Ender's Game and Philosophy

Ender's Game and Philosophy brings together over 30 philosophers to engage in wide-ranging discussion on issues such as: the justifiability of pre-emptive strikes and whether the end of saving the species can justify the most brutal means.

Current price: $13.73
available now
order here

Ender's Game 2014 Wall Calendar

This is the official 16-month Ender's Game Calendar, published by Lionsgate, the studio behind the movie adaption of the story. It features the best stills from the film, again for 16 months, and on 24 pages. Read our review and take a look inside the calendar!

Current price: $13.49
available now
order here

Meet Asa Butterfield and Hailee Steinfeld in London on Monday

Ender's Game stars Asa Butterfield and Hailee Stanfield will promote the film at the Apple Store (London, Regent Street) on Monday ahead of a big fan event that evening.

Also attending are director Gavin Hood and producers Bob Orci and Gigi Pritzker.

Where:
Apple Store, 235 Regent Street, London, UK

When:
Monday, October 7, 2013 at 5:30 pm

If you plan to join them as they discuss the Ender's Game film you have to register right now and reserve a seat at the Apple Store website. Obviously seating is limited and this event will be in high demand.

Free "Ender's Game" Panel in London With Cast/Crew Guests!

Heads up, UK Launchies! Bleeding Cool is reporting that a week from today on October 7th, there will be an Ender's Game panel between 6:30pm and 8:00pm with cast and crew members -- and it's absolutely free to attend!

From the site:

The panel will take place in the West End of London – in one of the bigger cinemas in Leicester Square would be my guess – and a number of stars will be in attendance.

According to the press release the following guests will be there:

Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Ben Kingsley, Gavin Hood, Bob Orci and Gigi Pritzker.

There will also be props from the film and "never before seen footage" shown.

Yikes!

To claim your ticket, keep an eye on the official website for London Comic-Con around 6 p.m. GMT tomorrow -- though Bleeding Cool suggests that you get there a bit early and hit refresh for a while; this is something that may "sell out" very quickly!

Good luck, Launchies.

One Reason (Of Many) Why We Support Gavin Hood

I know we said this topic was closed here at Ender News, but Ender's Game director Gavin Hood recently spoke with SFX magazine about the debate surrounding Orson Scott Card and the upcoming film. He addresses the inner conflict many of us most likely experienced when deciding to support this movie, and how he tackled that issue early in the production process:

"I'm frustrated and disappointed in the views that he's espousing, because I'm finding it very hard as a fan of the book," Hood says. "One of the key themes in the book is compassion, and kindness and understanding towards – for want of a better word – another species, and the notion that these great themes and ideas that are in the book are not playing out in his personal life is confusing and distressing to me. My feeling is that this is one of those very strange and unfortunate situations, much l like the music of Richard Wagner or Carl Orff, where it's often the case that art rises above the personal failings of its creators.

"I'm obviously disappointed and saddened. Ender's Game was written when he was younger, and I read what he's saying now and I read what he said then, and it feels like I'm looking at two different people, and that's confusing. But I faced this issue when I was in pre-production, and these views were coming out, and I remember coming home to my wife and saying 'Honey, I don't know what to do, part of me wants to just stop, I can't believe what's coming out of this author's mouth.' I love this book, but what is this? And then I thought this book is actaully [sic] completely at odds with what he's saying. I'm not going to be intimidated out of making a piece of work that I feel has strong themes and important themes and is beloved by many, just because its original creator is now espousing extremely extreme views, with which I don't agree.

"I said this is going to be a debate, and debate is good. The truth is that if we hadn't made the movie we wouldn't be having this discussion, and in some ways, in a twisted way I actually welcome the opportunity to express my views which appear to be the polar opposite to his. But the movie is not about the crazy things that Orson is saying. It's about the nature of man in terms of his capacity for violence and compassion, and questioning this merging of game and reality in drone warfare. All of those themes for me remain extremely powerful despite the views on gay marriage that Orson has, with which I strongly disagree."

I'm beginning to despise the word "controversy" but admire Gavin Hood more and more every day.

Countdown: 60 Days to Go - Symphony

Gavin Hood said it was watching Gustavo Dudamel lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra during a show in L.A.'s Disney Hall that inspired him to have Ender conduct his team of pilots as if he were guiding them through a prestissimo symphony — front and center, orchestrating everyone's movements in harmony.

Source: LA Times

Set Visit Report #2: Interview With Director Gavin Hood

© Ender News

As far as directors go, Gavin Hood seems to be the perfect choice for a film which requires working with a fleet of young actors. He's the kind of guy who could be your neighbor, one who'd play soccer with your kid and grin winningly from the ground after he tripped over his own feet. I've heard him described by those who spent time on the Ender's Game set as a "grown-up kid" and "our very own Peter Pan." He's likable, unassuming, and has a charming tendency to throw his hands up in the air when he's talking.

He is also a man filled with a deep passion for his work and an understanding of film adaptations that comes not only from him being a brilliant director and scriptwriter, which he is, but because he is first and foremost a fan of the material. And it's his fan side that seems to be what fuels his desire to get Ender's Game right, not just for box office numbers -- but for us.

On the day of our set visit, he snuck quietly into the press conference toward the end of our talk with a few of the film's stars, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, and Nonso Anozie. He looked a little like he wasn't quite meant to be there, standing smiling off to the side of the room while Asa told of his first meeting with Orson Scott Card, admitting that he hadn't had many questions for the author; it was Card, rather, who had the questions for him.

"He hasn't read his books for a long time. He was checking with the kids," Hood quipped, to roaring laughter.

"Gavin Hood, everyone."

© Summit Entertainment

The first question everyone saw coming: What's Hood's favorite sci-fi film? Unsurprisingly, it's 2001 A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick, a film which he claims influenced his decision to direct Ender's Game.

"I've always been a big fan of Kubrick, and on some level, that's what attracted me to this movie. You have these amazing visual opportunities that are big and epic and beautiful -- and you're in space. It's literally awe-inspiring. And if you watch, if you spend a lot of time watching footage that's been shot on the Hubble telescope, you get all those fantastic, big visuals. And of course there is the Battle Room and they do all this wonderful stuff - you're in the Battle School and you get all this zero-gravity stuff at the same time."

He could have probably talked Kubrick forever, and to be honest, we would have let him. However, it was then that several of the supporting cast members popped in -- Ender's jeesh.

"Come on, you are all kids," he grinned. "This is much more important."

After a lot of laughing and rearranging of the seats, the cast gathered around their director and Nonso Anozie brought us back to the topic at hand.

Physical Sets vs. CGI

"You know what's amazing? When you say 2001 A Space Odyssey, a lot of the sets, a lot of stuff which surprised me coming onto this film, are real built sets. They're real. You're not just looking at green screen all the time. There's a lot of reality there. And as an actor it's so good," Anozie admitted. "And kind of that James Cameron/Kubrick-kind of feel, that symmetry? It's like a lot of that beauty is captured sometimes in this film, in some of the stuff we do."

"And that's really the key," Hood agreed. "You have both these awe-inspiring, epic moments and you have these very intimate close-ups, detailed emotional moments, what's going on between the characters. Which I think is what's amazing about Ender's Game. It's really a fantastic set of characters. It's obviously a single wonderful character study of Ender but he's also surrounded by amazing characters like Bean, and Dink, and Alai, and Bernard, and obviously Petra. [...] You've got all these marvelous, strong, well-defined characters engaged in really human and emotional stories. And yet it's set in this wonderful, sort of epic space."

© Summit Entertainment

It really is an epic space, as we would witness all day while wandering around the sets -- huge set pieces which were built to scale there at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, including the cavernous room of Ender's final simulation. And when walking down the Formic tunnels, amber pathways with metal walkways bolted in, it wasn't hard to understand how easy it would have been for the actors to become lost in the world of Eros.

"What we wanted to create were spaces where the actors could genuinely feel the world. And then obviously there are certain worlds, like when you really are out in space, that have to be fully visually created by us. But certainly when you're in the space tunnels and in the dormitories and moving down those corridors or inside the command center on Eros..." he drifted off, possibly a little lost in Ender's world himself.

© Summit Entertainment

But what about the set pieces which couldn't be realistically built? Gavin spent some time explaining exactly how he and the VFX team went about filming scenes which were very greenscreen-heavy, such as those which take place in the Battle Room or the Mind Game. Bringing a beloved character to life is daunting enough as it is; how did Asa manage to interact with characters and objects he couldn't see?

The team made it a bit easier for him: before Asa was expected to perform, he was shown a previsualization of how everything should eventually play out. After spending quite some time working with movement coaches, he then tried out what he had learned based on what the scene was tentatively supposed to look like.

Fortunately for Asa, it wasn't necessary for him to base his actions on what the visual team expected; rather, they added in the visuals based on where he grabbed, reached, and moved.

"If he reaches here and pulls something here or he reaches slightly off there, it's fine because we're putting in those graphics certainly in relation to what we see on him. [...] It's not like, 'Oh my god, you have to point at exactly THAT because THAT is where that graphic is.' Well, the graphic isn't there yet."

But it would be.

Themes of Leadership

Gavin Hood was drafted into the military at the age of 17, and it was his time spent in service which he says helped him connect emotionally to Ender's story.

"A lot of those feelings - feeling like you were just a number in an organization with strong authority figures that you were not supposed to question, feeling like you wanted to rebel against it… I connected with this book in many ways based on feelings and experiences that I'd had. And I also really think that the ideas and themes of leadership in the book and hopefully in the movie are timeless and classic. You know, what is good leadership? What is bad leadership? What is responsible leadership?"

These are themes which Hood feels are important to address with young people today. And what's a better platform for reaching teenagers than a huge Hollywood blockbuster?

"So often there are films that we go to and they're fantastic and they're fun and they're wonderful. But it's like, 'Well, that was great. Wanna get pizza?' as opposed to a story like Ender's Game where kids really talk about it. 'Well, what do you think about the way Ender made that decision? Was he too violent, or wasn't he?' These are important conversations, I think, for young people to engage in, but in an exciting way. If you can deliver that kind of debate and conversation  in an exciting, visually powerful way, then I think you're getting a little more than just spectacle. We can combine spectacle with a good old-fashioned argument afterwards and that's kind of fun."

Book Adaptations and Locke and Demosthenes

One complaint heard most often from fans is that the Locke and Demosthenes storyline has been cut from the film. In what might have been my favorite part of the set visit, Gavin Hood addressed this question and the challenge that inevitably awaits every book-to-movie adaptation.

"The film making experience is very different to reading a book. It is a contained 2 hour experience in which you have a beginning, a middle and an end and you leave before your bladder hurts," he stated, grinning. "These are the facts, right? The medium is different. And one of the facts I think we have to own up to is that saying, 'Is the movie like the book?' Wait a minute, the book is the book. It exists, it can never be taken away. It is a different experience to sit and read over a period of weeks or days, chapter by chapter, put it down, reflect, pick it up. So that is why movies are based on books. They cannot be the book."

At this point, everyone in the room was nodding, including the boys sitting around him. Everyone could tell that this was a conversation they'd had many times and a topic which Hood had given a great deal of thought. He gestured to Alai actor Suraj Partha who was sitting to his right.

"If I said to you, 'Here is a young Suraj. I want you to take his photograph and I'd like you to sculpt him, I'd like you to paint him in oil.' And these 3 pieces of art were presented to the class. Would the class say, 'Hold on, this oil painting looks nothing like the sculpture!' You'd go, 'Of course it doesn't. That's an oil painting and that's a sculpture.'

"So the question becomes: Does the oil painting capture the spirit of this boy in some unique way? Does the pencil sketch capture his spirit in a way that moves you? Does the sculpture capture the spirit in a way that moves you? And that for me is the same with books, I did it with Tsotsi - it was an adaptation in which I made many changes -- and Athol [Fugard] was very pleased with it. He said, 'Because you stayed true to the spirit of the character.'"

© Summit Entertainment

But if Locke and Demosthenes are cut from the film, how is Hood going to reveal Peter's depth, his better qualities? How will we ever relate to a boy who is found skinning squirrels alive halfway through the novel?

"I've tried to do it without giving it away, and had to do it in a matter of about 3 very economical scenes," he replied. "We meet Peter at the beginning of the movie, and he has everything I think that the book has - that aggression and bully and nastiness. But to your point, if you had interviewed Peter and said, 'Why are you doing this?' he would say, 'Because this kid has to toughen up or he's not going to make it.' He's engaged in what he would justify as tough love. And at some point in the film, somewhere in the third act, you will find a scene in which that idea presents itself. [...] I've tried to do it in a very subtle scene between him and Valentine which is not a scene from the book."

The door opened then and the director was called back to set, but he took a moment to turn and thank us all for being there. "I love these questions because they’re so tough to answer but they're so honest. You're right to ask them so I hope I’ve given you some idea. Thanks, guys. Thank you very much."

He left then, back to the realization of an adaptation he had been working on for over 2 years before he had created something he believes to be good, something true to Ender's spirit.

I have no doubt that he has succeeded.

--

Coming tomorrow: Part 3 - Costumes and Props

Set Visit Report #1: The Production Art Tour

"Can you guess this?"

At his question, we smiled and shuffled in our seats. It certainly looked like the giant and the impossible game he played with the tiny mouse, but now was not the time to jump to conclusions, not with producer Bob Orci looking so entirely pleased at the front of the room.

"The Mind Game! In the Mind Game, you know, in order to contrast it with the technology and the sci-fi -- this is more beautiful and impressionistic and just fantasy-like," Orci went on, clearly unaware of the bomb he had just dropped.

"Wait… so, it's being filmed? The Mind Game?"

"It's in the movie."

That was only a few seconds of the hour-and-a-half long roller coaster ride that was the Ender's Game production art tour -- and the tour was only the tip of the iceberg. During our set visit on May 22, 2012, we had the fortunate opportunity to sit and chat with the film's producers, actors, and production team, having intimate discussions in which we learned tons of exciting tidbits about how they brought Ender's story to life.

What you'll be reading the next few days is what we discovered.

© Summit Entertainment

The movie was, for the most part, filmed in chronological order, something the producers were immensely glad about later since Asa Butterfield (Ender Wiggin) grew nearly three inches during filming. "He starts the movie seeming like a much smaller kid and by the end of it, as he becomes a leader, he's actually sort of grown into it." Orci explained. "I think it's going to have a weird, subtle, psychological effect when you're watching it in the movie. We've been shooting it chronologically so let's talk about method acting, huh? 'GROW!'"

While it isn't clear over the course of the film exactly how much time passes, Bob Orci assured us that they do sort-of specify -- in height.

"Three inches pass," he winked.

So, why Asa? What was it about this then soon-to-be 15-year-old boy that made everyone who met him believe he could pull off a credible and moving Ender Wiggin?

"[During] the casting process we looked at a wide age range and ultimately the only thing that mattered is who would we believe could be Ender and who would we believe could be the leader of his peers by the end of the film in a believable way," producer Linda McDonough explained, "He has that deep, wise soulfulness in his performance. [...] And so all of the things that you get in the book where people judge him at first blush as an underdog? We still have that in Asa's interpretation of the character."

For younger, supporting members of the cast, they needed actors who were talented, athletic, and willing to work really, really hard.

© Aramis Knight

"When you spend time with them at the press conference, you should ask them about their time at Space Camp and also the military training they did," McDonough suggested, "Because, you know, whether you have twenty kids or a hundred -- when you're talking about the extras, they have to all be prepared to march and know how to do it and make it look good before you start shooting. I think that that's kind of a cool experience for them because it was months of training while we were prepping the film."

While there was a lot of hard work, the kids definitely got to kick back on the weekends -- on occasion to the dismay of the adults in charge. One day, during a Walmart run to grab a few much-needed supplies, McDonough spotted some very familiar faces outside the sliding glass doors: several younger members of the Ender's Game cast -- all on bicycles.

"I'm like, 'How did you guys get here?' It wasn't in a good part of town and I was like, 'Ahh! Actors! Where are your parents?!' And they're like, 'We took our per diem! We took a cab to buy cheap bikes!' and then they rode off and this looked like ET, this little pack of them going."

Ender's jeesh.

Peddling off into the sunset that day, friends from the moment they first met at the welcome dinner in New Orleans, it seems unlikely that these boys had any idea about the long road that had been travelled to see them there that day. But as she stood in the parking lot watching them speed away, McDonough knew, and so did the other excited men and women we shared a room with last year.

A Futuristic Earth

Set during an unspecified time in the future, Ender's world is a far cry from the dystopia we are so used to seeing today in futuristic YA tales such as The Hunger Games or Divergent. There are no barbed-wire fences or barefoot children running around looking for scraps. It is a rich, colorful Earth, filled with beauty and art, where the citizens thrive under an authoritarian yet very peaceful government. "A world worth saving," Orci smiled as he flipped to a mock-up of Ender's classroom.  "Looks like my classroom as a kid."

© Summit Entertainment

And the production artists took care to ensure many elements of Ender's earthly environment remain familiar to those of us stuck in 2013. Even the Wiggin family house, while most likely equipped with a far better home theater system, isn't so different from fairly modern homes you might run across today. "Why wouldn't there be classic houses?" Orci asked, pointing out that the Vatican has existed virtually unaltered for the past 500 years. Even the location Ender visits on the lake during his short landside leave with Valentine - the veterans' retreat - looks very much like a resort you could currently find nestled in a forest in North Carolina.

© Summit Entertainment

While many aspects of Ender Wiggin's futuristic world have remained relatively unchanged, there is one area that has flourished: the space program. When sitting down to decide on a look for advanced launch vehicles, the production team was fortunate enough to be able to consult Elon Musk, a genius in the field of rocket technology.

"Originally we had concept art of shuttles taking off like an airplane, like a shuttle, and he said, ‘No, that's highly... that would never happen. Since you're trying to get up, just point the damn thing up!'" Orci laughed.

"And that's what the future's gonna be."

Battle School

© Summit Entertainment

So, the shuttle was pointed up -- and aimed directly at Battle School.

Very early renderings of the Battle School were nearly identical to the structure we recently saw in the trailers: an enormous space station located within Earth's orbit with giant rings containing the student and faculty's living quarters. The entire construction rotates around a massive, transparent sphere -- effectively creating gravity everywhere except where it's not needed: the Battle Room, the center of the school and the focus of everyone who lives there.

And the film's version is definitely a far cry from the dark, nondescript Battle Room of the book. "One of the big changes, obviously, is that the Battle Room is transparent," Orci pointed out. "That allows us to have the light change. It gives the feeling when you're out there that you're actually in space ‘cause you can see the Earth out the window, you can see the sun, you can see the moon and it just gave it this scope that seemed to be practical for the fact that they're training these kids to operate in space." They plan to make good use of lighting changes; some battles will take place at night, some during the day, and every time the Battle Room is shown there will be a different feel to the incredible null-g environment.

© Summit Entertainment

While a lot of the Battle Room must be computer-generated, the majority of the Battle School hallways and rooms were built to scale as it was important to director Gavin Hood that the actors had tangible spaces to work in. To emulate the school's ringed hallways, they constructed a set piece they called "Corridor A," a beautiful, curved walkway they used to film the cast travelling up and around the ring. Unfortunately it wasn't there when we visited; to make room for other set pieces, it had been torn down, though it had been a cast and crew favorite.

"We had a little memorial for it last week," producer Linda McDonough admitted.

While the Battle Room is a huge part of Battle School, just like in the book, it's not all lasers and flash suits. The young soldiers also attend to their lessons - though it doesn't seem to be biology and literature books they're cracking. It's in history class where they study the Formic invasion and Mazer Rackham's incredible victory. It's in these classrooms, which were also built to scale in New Orleans, where the young soldiers view footage or "vids" of Earth's first interaction with the Buggers -- and not just on their desks, but displayed in front of them using advanced holographic technology.

It will be easy to see in the film how these videos could be used as pro-Fleet propaganda on Earth: The swarms of Formic jets well outnumber Mazers fleet, with fighters that are advanced but not a huge leap from the ones we fly today, "We want it to seem grounded and more immediate. You know, that this is something that's gonna happen to us soon," Orci explained.

The Mind Game

Bob Orci called it "beautiful, impressionistic, and fantasy-like," a mixture of motion-capture mixed with artistic renderings. In the film, Ender plays the game on his desk, and the audience will be sucked into this beautiful, fantasy world not just once, but off and on throughout the film -- the same way Ender experienced it in the book.

We got a brief look at the production art of the mind game, including the mirror Ender peers into and sees Peter instead of himself reflected back. I remember it being faintly reminiscent of the "Tale of the Three Brothers" animation in the final Harry Potter film - gorgeous, and I can't wait to see the final product.

Eros and the Final Simulation

While Earth is all greens and blues and Battle School filled with steel blues and grays, the Eros of the film, while maybe not specifically called by name, is a beautiful amber color.  It's a formerly thriving planet which was occupied by, not a monstrous race, but an intelligent species with culture, history, and dreams of colonization. The surface of Eros, which in part jets up toward the sky in skyscraper-esque dwellings, is only the tip of an iceberg; the structures stand tall above miles and miles of underground tunnels in which the humans later bolted in their steel walkways - which we got to visit while in New Orleans!

© Summit Entertainment

"To interpret the idea of the Formics being an insect-like race in a sense, cinematically, Gavin was very much inspired by the giant ant hills of South Africa which is his home country," McDonough revealed, with Orci nodding in the background. "When Lynn says giant ant hills in South Africa, she means giant ant hills in South Africa. Like spires, totally gigantic. And Gavin can explain this, how it's all about keeping the queen totally comfortable in her air conditioned chamber."

Eros is the home of Command School where Ender and his friends are sent to complete their training with the International Fleet -- but the film's version is obviously not a factual representation of the real-life Eros asteroid that sits between Mars and Jupiter today. That particular tiny, potato-shaped rock has no atmosphere, almost no gravity, certainly no underground structures; it would fit on Vancouver Island more than 82 times.

Command School is also the location of the battle simulation room where Graff and his team overlook Ender's final exam from a observation deck above. And this room is absolutely epic.

During his final battles, Ender is standing on a podium in an absolutely cavernous chamber with the most elite of his soldiers and his very best friends forming an arc in front of him, each on their own console, helping control the ships' movements. The scene looks very much like a deadly symphony is playing with Ender Wiggin as the conductor.

It is going to be a gorgeous visual experience, the entire simulation playing out in front of Ender and his confidants in encompassing holographic projections. For the young soldiers, what they are experiencing both looks and feels real.

Sequels

So how does it end? I can't tell you that. Will there be sequels? Maybe, but Bob Orci doesn't like to count his chickens before they hatch, though there's no harm in ensuring that the coop's big enough.

"[We have to make sure] that emotionally it is over in a way, it is a chapter. The emotional chapter is, ‘I now know the truth and I won't stand by and let that stand. I must make that right and I will make it right.' And that is him coming into his own so it's all about what you feel at the end. The idea is to make it feel that he is making a promise to do right and that's lots of classic films. Use that logic even though I could continue on."

"Any movie could have another chapter."

--

Make sure you also check out the set visit reports from EnderWiggin.net and Ender's Ansible!

Coming tomorrow: Part 2 - Interview with Gavin Hood

Fansite Exclusive: Official Companion Book Coming This Fall

Coming this fall, every fan who sat on the sidelines hoping for sneak peaks during the film's production will get an incredible, colorful look behind the scenes of Ender's world in an official movie companion book: Enders Game: Inside the World of an Epic Adventure.

The book, which includes a foreword by director Gavin Hood, will be a must-have for every Ender-fan. From the release:

"Packed with in-depth interviews, removable posters and army badges, stunning concept art, unparalleled access to the visual effects archives at Digital Domain, and countless full-color images, this insightful insider's view of the making of Ender's Game will bring fans closer into the world of the movie, following cast and crew as it is brought to dazzling life."

Author Jed Alger is an advertising writer and creative director who also compiled The Art and Making of ParaNorman, a fun companion book that went behind the scenes and delved into the creation and production of a stop-motion animation film.

Don't miss out on what is sure to be an absolute treat: pre-order the Ender companion on Amazon today!

Gavin Hood and adapting: "What can I do in a film that the novel might not be able to do as well?"

Ender's Game director Gavin Hood tackled a few tough questions at the Fan Expo Canada, an annual fan convention which was held this past weekend in Toronto.

On exploring "moral greys:"

"Some films masquerade as dealing with moral complexity, but in fact, for me, cop out a little by never putting the protagonist in a truly morally complex situation," Hood said in a recent interview at the pop culture fest known as Fan Expo Canada. "There are films we can think of where, yes, the protagonist kills people, but actually all the people they kill are bad or awful in some way, (without) that moment of really having to face up to the grey zone, that place where you ask, 'Am I capable of doing something morally repugnant because I believe it’s for a greater good?'

On his adaptation and decision to cut the beloved Locke and Demosthenes storyline:

"I think I was a little naive myself," Hood says. "As a filmmaker, it offers tremendous opportunity for visual spectacle. … And I have young kids, and I want to take them to a big fun movie and then talk to them about it afterwards. I want to encourage conversation. Great. Of course, then I start adapting it, and it took me two years." [...]

“My wife actually says to me, ‘Gavin, you have to stop going on the Internet. It makes you crazy.’ There’s so much chatter,” says Hood. “I found it hard to cut. But it really means you need to make a 15-part miniseries, and I was given the opportunity to make a two-hour film, so my focus was, ‘What can I do in a film that the novel might not be able to do as well?’”

Check out the full article over at  Metro News.

Gavin Hood and Bob Orci Reenact a Tender Scene from "Ender's Game"

Thursday after the Ender's Game panel at Comic-Con we had a lovely opportunity to sit down with a few of the panel guests for a fun round table interview. We had a great time, especially when director Gavin Hood and producer Bob Orci decided to show off their acting skills.

We were talking about the relationship between Ender and Petra when they decided to show us exactly how things between the two of them progressed:



Bob Orci makes an absolutely fantastic Petra, does he not? :)

Read more about what they had to say about the Ender/Petra relationship here.

Ender and Petra: Genuine Tenderness

This picture above, and a couple of others that emerged recently - such as the one where Ender and Petra are holding hands in the Battle Room gate - have led to hot discussions in the Ender's Game fandom if these two characters will have some kind of teen love story in the movie. We asked Hailee Steinfeld (Petra), Asa Butterfield, and director and writer Gavin Hood about the depth of the relationship between Ender and Petra, but before we get into what they had to say, here are a few things to consider:

We know that - for several plausible reasons that have been widely communicated - the age of the Battle School kids in the movie has been upped to about 12 or 13 years from 6 to 7 in the book. What you will see on screen is a rather lonely and isolated 13-year-old boy (Ender) confined to a boarding school-like environment in space. And he makes friends with a girl of his age. What kind of chemistry would you expect to see between these two characters to make Ender believable, to bond with him?

But rest assured, there is no teenage love story between Ender and Petra. However, both characters formed a very tight friendship with moments of 'genuine tenderness' as Gavin Hood explained.

[Hailee]: "What's so great about the relationship between them... Not only did I not really see it as a sort of romance thing, the characters don't either. I think they're looking for a friend, for somebody to trust and feel comfortable with. And that doesn't necessarily mean boyfriend/girlfriend or whatever."

[Gavin Hood]: "You expressed it pretty well. They are in this Battle School, which is pretty brutal, and there is genuine tenderness between these two characters at certain moments. And there are genuinely sweet moments, when she teaches him how to shoot... both exciting and really tender. But it's not "let's be cute-y". None of that! None of us wanted that.

But Petra really is a badass in the movie, and does amazingly badass things! But we are all not just one thing. And just because she kicks ass, is badass, doesn't mean there's not a need for friendship. And both of these characters [Ender and Petra] are isolated and tough because they are kind of outsiders, and there's a couple of really nice moments in the movie where they're gonna say "to hell with those other people. We're gonna go out in the Battle Room and train!" And there is something genuine about it! There's nothing cutesy about it, no "oh let's have a little love story", none of that. But there is something... dare I say 'certain romance' to that, which is beautiful, in a real way, and they play it in a real way."

What do you think? Doesn't it sound just perfectly right?

Gavin Hood talks Ender's Game Details and Possible Sequels

Ender News staff members Kelly and Aidan had the opportunity to sit down with Ender's Game director Gavin Hood, producer Roberto Orci, and lead actors Hailee Steinfeld and Asa Butterfield, and talk for 30 minutes about those aspects of the movie that we thought were most interesting for all the fans. Also present at the meeting were our friends from Enderwiggin.net and Ender's Ansible.

I will intentionally leave out all the talk that I consider too spoilery, anything about Stilson or the shower scene, because even if you read the book multiple times, you want to see this in the theatre - believe me! We've learned a whole lot of new things in these 30 minutes which should be very interesting for all of you.

Director Gavin Hood said the editing work is about 95% done and the final cut will "probably be a little short of two hours" in length. When asked about possible sequels, Gavin confirmed that they've already talked about it, but wouldn't go into detail as the studio hasn't greenlighted any additional films from Ender's world at this point. As to be expected, the decision for or against a sequel depends on the first film's box office success, but there is definitely the chance for more than just one Ender's Game movie. Here's what Gavin had to say:

"This property is something that people wanted to make for a long time and didn't, couldn't, wouldn't... so everybody was a little bit shocked that we've actually made it. And now -- there might be a little bit more of shock in there, but shock in a good way -- the fans responded so well to what they saw. Which is right for me! So thank you, guys! [...] But the reason Bobby [Roberto Orci] is cautious [with talking about possible sequels to Ender's Game], and this is the boring business part of movies, is... there is a large amount of money at stake and we would need the approval of the studio to go ahead. The truth is, we just don't have the GO yet.

[...] Until we get some serious decision whether we do it, what exactly are we doing for the sequel? We talked about it, but... we don't wanna talk about it because they haven't agreed yet. [Bob Orci:] They wanna see if folks like this one, if there's an appetite for more."

What Parts Of The Book Will Make It On Screen?

We learned from Gavin that the movie will strictly focus on Ender, which means that many of the side plots won't be as substantial as they are in the novel, or will be omitted entirely. If you have ever seen a movie based on a well-established literary work, you know that this approach is perfectly normal, necessary even to win over that part of the audience that is not familiar with the book.

Gavin elaborated that some actors intentionally avoid reading the book because

"their feeling was to engage in conversations about scenes that are not in the movie isn't helpful. They need to know that what's in the script, which is gonna be on screen, has sufficient weight and substance and merit to give them fully rounded characters in the movie. So there's a lot of actors who don't want to read [the] books."

For Ender's Game this means that several of the supporting characters, including Bean and Ender's siblings Peter and Valentine, will play a smaller role in the movie than they do in the book:

We had to make a choice in this movie about what was gonna stay to fit into a two-hour movie and what we're gonna have to let go. And the main decision that we've made was that we would stick with Ender Wiggin and never do a scene without him. The only ones without him are a couple of scenes with Graff and Anderson where they talk about him, so that the audience was truly on Ender's journey in order to bond you visually and cinematically with this lead character and identify with him.

And so we haven't got a whole lot of ensemble pieces about Peter and Valentine together writing the blogs. That's what I'm gonna ask for forgiveness for. But also Bob and I thought that the blogging was so original in 1985, and it's not so original now, so it was the easiest part to shed with the least guilt. And so the only time you're gonna see Valentine and Peter is when they're interacting with Ender. Their roles are not that substantial, not as substantial as they were in the book.

Watch out for part two of this article where we will talk about the relationship between Ender and Petra in the movie. Including the hotly discussed topic if there is some kind of teen love story between them... will be posted in a few hours.

Video clips and lots of photos coming soon!

Watch Asa, Hailee, and Gavin Walk Through the "Ender's Game" Experience

For those of you who haven't yet had the pleasure of walking through the Ender's Game experience at Comic-Con this year (which, if you are in the San Diego area get down here RIGHT NOW), Screen Slam has posted a great video of Asa Butterfield (Ender), Hailee Steinfeld (Petra) and director Gavin Hood exploring the massive 8-room exhibit currently set up outside the Hilton Gaslamp.

Check it out:



And don't worry, guys. Full write-ups of my experiences here and interviews with the cast and crew members are coming very soon -- plus a boatload of pictures. I've taken half the day off and am currently crashed at the Marriott, trying to ignore the crazy and get some writing done. Hard to do on about 8 combined hours of sleep in 3 days!

I'm having such a blast. Can't wait to tell you guys about it!

Thanks to Fernanda for the video tip. :)

Ender's Game Stars Address Orson Scott Card Controversy

It certainly wasn't a surprise that the recent controversy about Ender's Game author Orson Scott Card and his anti-gay marriage views, came up quite frequently during and around the movie's Comic-Con panel last night in San Diego. As far as I can tell, no member of the film's cast or crew was shying away from answering questions and addressing the issue, despite the fact that the studio, Lionsgate, has already released an official statement last week.

As Ender News is not a political blog, I will leave the following quotes uncommented, just this much for the background of it all: as I have pointed out here, Mr. Card's involvement in the movie project is limited to contributing his original story. His work on the project ended when director Gavin Hood came on board, and that was in the very early stage of the Summit Entertainment project, as Gavin wrote an entirely new screenplay from scratch.

Here is an independent opinion from 'Milk' writer and gay civil rights campaigner Dustin Lance Black, as quoted by The Guardian, who also states that Orson Scott Card hasn't been involved "in decades":

"Boycotting a movie made by 99% LGBT equality folks in an LGBT equality industry is a waste of our collective energy. Making one phone call to a relative in the south who isn't quite there yet would be 1,000 times more effective. The homophobic novelist who wrote the book hasn't been involved in decades. Misguided boycott."

Here's what Harrison Ford and other Ender's Game stars had to say about the issue last night:

Harrison Ford (via StarPulse):

"He [Orson Scott Card] has written something that I think is of value to us all concerning moral responsibility. I think his views outside of those that we deal with in this film are not an issue for me to deal with and something I have really no opinion on. I am aware of his statements admitting that the question of gay marriage is a battle that he lost and he admits that he lost it. I think we all know that we've all won. That humanity has won. And I think that's the end of the story."

Harrison Ford (via Associated Press):

"No part of the story concerns Mr. Card's theories about society in terms of gay issues or homosexual issues. So I hold it completely separate. I think it's an imaginative and complex story. And I'm glad he told it. And I'm glad I had a chance to be a part of it. I think he has a right to his opinions and I think he has also made it clear that it was a battle that he fought and lost and would like to get on with the rest of life."

Roberto Orci (via The Los Angeles Times):

"The truth is you never want to court controversy, but we decided to use the attention on us to support Lionsgate's statement of support of LGBT rights. So rather than shy away, we are happy to embrace it and use the spotlight to say we support LGBT rights. I would hate to see the efforts of all the people who made this movie thwarted for the less than 1% of the people behind the movie, particularly because the message of the book and the movie is tolerance, compassion and empathy."

Gavin Hood (via Associated Press):

"My view is, I've been a member of the Courage Campaign for many years and I'm a little distressed by his point of view on gay marriage. However, the book is not about that issue, so I hope people can still appreciate the book because I think he wrote a great book, and the themes and ideas in the book, I think, are universal and timeless and applicable, and I hope the book will still be appreciated as a great work of art, even though I don't agree with the author. I optioned the book, not an author, and I love what the author said in that book."

Asa Butterfield (via Associated Press):

"I agree with rights for everybody. You can't blame a work for its author."

Okay, I know I just said I wouldn't, but let me close this with a personal comment anyway. No matter what your position might be regarding Orson Scott Card's opinions, what he chooses to campaign for, how he chooses to use his personal money and all those things... Mr. Card wrote an outstanding piece of Sci-Fi literature; a wonderful, imaginative and moving story that is cherished by so many, with defining virtues as compassion and tolerance that should be at the core of our modern society. And he deserves praise for that. No matter what you think about any of the other issues. Period.

Gavin Hood on Violence in Ender's Game

Anyone who read the novel knows that Ender's Game is not exactly free of violence, yet the producers are clearly aiming for a PG-13 rating and most of the cast is also very young.

But the elements of threat and fear are a very important part of the story, so it would be terrible if we got to see a movie that is toned down too much, just for the benefit of potentially reaching a wider audience. Just think about that famous shower scene with Bonzo Madrid, everyone is eager to see how they transferred it to the big screen...

Business Insider's Kelly West discussed this subject last night with Ender's Game director Gavin Hood, and here's what he had to say about the handling of violence in the movie:

I think that all those elements of bullying, which is a great theme in the world right now, and how kids deal with being bullied, which we know is so powerful in the book, that's in the movie. But what I try to do as a filmmaker in terms of handling questions of violence, is I don't believe in showing violence for violence's sake and repetitive violence.

For me, what I have found is an act of violence can be so sudden, what's more interesting is the aftermath. And so, our movie is not, I hope, in any way, really violent. I don't want it to be a violent film, but the effect of the moment of violence on the psyche of the protagonist and the people around him is profound as it is in the book. It has to be, and so those key scenes in the book - Bonzo in the shower are absolutely in the movie, and they shock in their suddenness, but they are not in any way indulgent.

I'm not interested in showing blood flying around the room or any of, none of that. What's more important is to see how these young character handle it and that's why I think it's an important film.

As a parent, I want my kids to go to a movie and not be spoken down to, deal with difficult themes, but be able to talk about it, not celebrate that, just talk about it.

Countdown: 162 days! "Ender's Game" Movie Timeline Part 2

After it occurred to me last night that today is the 1 year anniversary of my visit to the Ender's Game set in New Orleans, I admittedly became a little bummed. Where in the world has the time gone?

(You can read both of my set visit reports here: Part 1, Part 2)

To celebrate the day, I thought we could go back and review what's happened in the past 6 months since I posted my first Ender's Game timeline. If you're just now catching up on movie happenings, make sure to read that one first!

Let's start where I left off last time, shall we?

November 12, 2012: Aramis Knight and Andrea Powell attended the premiere of Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 in Los Angeles. We were hoping they could meet up for a photo, but they couldn't find each other!

November 17, 2012: An edited version of the full synopsis of the Ender's Game film was released by Summit Entertainment:

In the near future, a hostile alien race (called the Formics) have attacked Earth. If not for the legendary heroics of International Fleet Commander, Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley), all would have been lost. In preparation for the next attack, the highly esteemed Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) and the International Military are training only the best young children to find the future Mazer. Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy, but strategically brilliant boy is pulled out of his school to join the elite.

Arriving at Battle School, Ender quickly and easily masters increasingly difficult war games, distinguishing himself and winning respect amongst his peers. Ender is soon ordained by Graff as the military’s next great hope, resulting in his promotion to Command School. Once there, he’s trained by Mazer Rackham, himself, to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth and save the human race.

November 19, 2012: Ender News released the second part of our SDCC 2012 interview with Orson Scott Card where he speaks a lot about the upcoming film. Before you start reading, you might want to check out Part 1 in which he talks about his novel Earth Unaware!

November 23, 2012: Jimmy Jax Pinchak and Ender's Game stunt coordinator Garrett Warren faced off in their annual Thanksgiving football game. Guess who won. Thanks for the pics, guys. :)

November 30, 2012: We reported on a book signing and extensive Q&A session in which Orson Scott Card participated, where he gushed over the film's Battle Room scenes and clarified his semi-infamous "very few of the scenes in this movie [come from the book]" quote.

December 05, 2012: Entertainment Weekly unveiled the first official Ender's Game still which we later broke down for fans.

December 13, 2012: Crystal from EnderWiggin.net and I officially launched our Ender's Game podcast: EnderCast! 14 episodes in, we are still running strong.

December 15, 2012: The cast attended Hailee Steinfeld's 16th birthday party in LA.

January 17, 2013: EnderSpeaker discovered that Amazon.com is accepting pre-orders for an official Ender's Game 2014 calendar.

February 06, 2013: Brandon Soo Hoo sat down with teen entertainment magazine J-14 to speak about his role (Fly Molo) in Ender's Game and what it was like to work with some of his teenage co-stars.

"My character, Fly Molo, is a veteran soldier in Battle School. At first, he is introduced as Bonzo's lackey, but he eventually comes to recognize Ender as the superior commander. I can definitely relate to Fly's second-in-command role. A leader will always feel the majority of the pressure in a high-stakes situation, whereas the lieutenant is usually allowed to function below the radar. However, I'd say that unlike Fly, I would have a bit of trouble putting up with Bonzo. I have mild authority issues."

February 11, 2013: Suraj Partha covers Phillip Phillips' "Gone Gone Gone" and posted the video on his personal YouTube channel. A must watch! Since everyone is so musically talented, I'm still waiting around for an Ender's Game cast band to pop up.

February 12, 2013: We announced that Cryptozoic Entertainment had obtained the rights to produce not only an Ender's Game board game, but a trading card series as well!

February 19, 2013: Four of the Ender's Game army insignias were exclusively revealed by the fan sites who visited the set last year - including Ender News! Check out Salamander, Rat and Asp -- as well as Dragon Army to the left.

February 20, 2013: Just a day later, those same fan sites unveiled an exciting still of Ender and Petra in the Battle School mess hall. We also included a set visit preview -- with promises of much more to come! No worries: we haven't forgotten.

February 24, 2013: Aramis Knight and Khylin Rhambo smartened themselves up for a night on the town at Hollywood's Oscars after-party.

February 28, 2013: Hailee Steinfeld signed copies of Ender's Game while out in support of Our Military Kids in Phoenix, AZ.

March 01, 2013: Ender News turned 1! 

March 19, 2013: A sneak peak of the Ender's Game trailer was shown to lucky professionals at the GAMA Trade Show in Las Vegas - to raving reviews!

March 22, 2013: Rames from Ender News posted a great overview of what he believes when can expect regarding  Ender's Game movie marketing.

March 24, 2013: Director Gavin Hood posted a sneak peak of the teaser poster over on the official production blog.

"Without exception, every person who works on this wonderful film brings more than just skill to the table. They bring passion."

March 25, 2013: Yahoo! Movies unveiled the first official Ender's Game teaser poster alongside an exclusive phone interview with Gavin Hood.

March 25, 2013: Producer Bob Orci casually mentioned on twitter that the Ender's Game trailer would make its cinematic debut in May in front of Star Trek Into Darkness. Way to make it no big deal, right?

March 27, 2013: Harrison Ford spoke with Entertainment Tonight and admitted that he believes Ender's Game "could be great."

April 1, 2013: Many of Asa Butterfield's cast and crew members rose to the occasion and sent in photos wishing him a very happy birthday! Thanks again to everyone who participated!

April 18, 2013: Ender's Game cast members Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, and Harrison Ford hit CinemaCon, where they were honored with awards -- plus, the trailer was shown during Summit's 2-hour 2013 project presentation.

April 20, 2013: Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston spoke at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books where Card admitted that he believes Speaker for the Dead to be unfilmable:

"'Speaker for the Dead' is unfilmable," Card said in response to a question from the audience. "It consists of talking heads, interrupted by moments of excruciating and unwatchable violence. Now, I admit, there's plenty of unwatchable violence in film, but never attached to my name.

"'Speaker for the Dead, I don't want it to be filmed. I can't imagine it being filmed'."

April 27, 2013: While making promotional rounds for Iron Man 3, Sir Ben Kingsley (Mazer Rackham) spoke to Coventry Telegraph about his other upcoming projects, Ender's Game included:

Mazar Rackham [is] a combination of historically ancient warrior in that he is descended from Maori and has Maori tattooed on his face. And at the same time he is teaching children how to operate drones. So he is very advanced and also rooted in an ancient warrior tradition.

May 01, 2013: Enterrtainment Weekly gave the world its first look at Sir Ben Kinglsey as Mazer Rackham - in full makeup! Check out those Maori tattoos.

May 02, 2013: Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford previewed the first trailer for Ender's Game on YouTube with a 10-second teaser of entirely new footage. They also announced an exciting live Google Hangout with Bob Orci, Gavin Hood, and Asa Butterfield before the debut of the trailer.

May 03, 2013: Thanks to @BKilek, we gave you your first look at the Ender's Game movie tie-in book covers. You can pick one up at Barnes and Noble - Hardcover and Paperback!

May 06, 2013: Summit unveiled the official movie website, the IF Sentinel: a communication hub of the International Fleet with the fictional public of Ender's world.

May 07, 2013: The first Ender's Game trailer debuted on Google and YouTube. With over 4 million views already, it won't hurt to watch it again, right?



Asa Butterfield also spoke with Hollywood.com about Zero-G, Space Camp and what makes the character of Ender Wiggin so special.

May 08, 2013: Asa Butterfield participated in a Reddit AMA.

May 09, 2013: Summit confirmed that Steve Jablonsky (not James Horner) is to score Ender's Game.

May 13, 2013: Cryptozoic's Ender's Game trading cards are most likely to include cast/crew autograph cards. Can't wait to get my hands on these.

May 17, 2013: Producers Bob Orci and and Alex Kurtzman briefly addressed the sensitive issue of Orson Scott Card's controversial views on gay marriage and how these views may or may not affect the reception of the film:

"The book is beautiful. It’s about tolerance, it’s about responsibility, it’s about growing up. We just tend to judge a book on its own merits. Nothing that anyone could say is going to remove our original reaction of how we perceive this beautiful book. For us, it’s just about the book."

 May 21, 2013: Summit released a new promotional photo of Colonel Graff and Ender -- with a great look at Dragon Army's flash suit helmet.

And we're back to today. Only 162 days to go, Launchies. Did you know it was 364 days to go last time I posted a timeline? Look how far we've come!

How's everyone holding up?