A new 3D motion picture event, from headmaster Director Steven Spielberg: “The Adventures of Tintin”, at the Rome Film Festival 2011.
Talent Jamie Bell (“Billy Elliott”) told us:
“It’s been my first time in working in performance capture, which is an extremely strange thing to do for an actor. You have to act without a scene or a set, only giving to your character the soul with your movements and eyes. Andy Serkis, headmaster in this performance way, told me some important things in order to perform at my best. I’m Tintin, an only digital character, and this has been such an amazing opportunity for me: you know, I’ve worked with one of my favourite directors, Steven (I felt in love with “Jurassic Park” when I was only 8 years old), in a role which comes from one of my favourite comics. I was born in a small city in England, and the only two things I loved to do when I was a young boy where dancing, of course, and reading, firstly Hergè’s”Tintin“! The best thing I’ve always loved in this story is that Tintin is someone you felt in love with but without knowing him: you know he’s a journalist but not where or when his articles are published, and nothing about his family or friends! I also think that Spelberg has given to this character a peculiar gift, making Tintin’s hair something iconic like Indiana Jones’ hat. I suppose there’ll be a trilogy on Tintin’s stories, but who knows, it depends on public!”
“As soon as I read my first of the books, Tintin never strayed far from my thoughts and heart. I knew Tintin and I were destined for some kind of collaboration . . . and a journey of discovery.”
– Steven Spielberg, Director –
From Oscar® winning director Steven Spielberg and Oscar® winning producer Peter Jackson, two of today’s most visionary storytellers, comes a 3D motion picture event: an epic, globe-hopping quest that spans hidden mysteries, menacing criminals and ancient secrets — and brings to dazzling, life the classic escapades that have enthralled generation after generation with their one-of-a-kind mix of action, humor and scintillating tale-spinning in The Adventures of Tintin, The Secret of the Unicorn.
Based on the internationally beloved and irrepressible characters created by Hergé, the story follows the unquenchably curious young reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell) and his fiercely loyal dog Snowy as they discover a model ship carrying an explosive secret. Drawn into a centuries-old mystery, Tintin finds himself in the sightlines of Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (Daniel Craig), a diabolical villain who believes Tintin has stolen a priceless treasure tied to dastardly pirate named Red Rackham. But with the help of his dog Snowy, the salty, cantankerous Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) and the bumbling detectives Thompson & Thomson (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost), Tintin will travel half the world, outwitting and outrunning his enemies in a breathless chase to find the final resting place of The Unicorn, a shipwreck that may hold the key to vast fortune . . . and a ancient curse.
From the high seas to the sands of North African deserts, every new twist and turn sweeps Tintin and his friends to escalating levels of thrills and peril, proving that when you dare to risk everything, there’s no limit to what you can do.
Columbia Pictures and Paramount Pictures Present in association with Hemisphere Media Capital and Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films, and Kennedy/Marshall Production of A Steven Spielberg Film, The Adventures of Tintin, The Secret of the Unicorn. The film is directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish based on “The Adventures of Tintin, The Secret of the Unicorn” by Hergé. Produced by Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy, with Ken Kamins, Hergé Estate’s Nick Rodwell and Stephane Sperry as executive producers. The co-producers are Carolynne Cunningham and Jason McGatlin. Spielberg is joined by his Oscar®-winning collaborators, editor Michael Kahn, A.C.E. and legendary composer John Williams.
The film’s acclaimed international ensemble is led by Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) as Tintin, Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) as Captain Haddock, Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace) as Sakharine, Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) and Simon Pegg (Star Trek) as Thomson & Thompson, Toby Jones (the Harry Potter films) as Silk, Mackenzie Crook (Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy) and Daniel Mays (The Bank Job) as Tom and Allan, and Gad Elmaleh (The Valet) as Ben Salaad.
Weta Digital’s Oscar® winning visual effects team includes senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri, visual effects supervisor Scott E. Anderson and animation supervisor Jamie Beard, along with art directors Andrew Jones and Jeff Wisniewski.
The Adventures of Tintin, The Secret of the Unicorn will be released worldwide in RealD 3D and IMAX 3D, from Sony Pictures Entertainment and Paramount Pictures.
by Ilaria Rebecchi