When you watch Mortal Engines Official Trailer it will be obvious that this upcoming film is by the filmmakers of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Not just because they brag about it at the beginning or from the New Zealand landscapes, but because of the eye-popping special effects, astonishing spectacle, and epic adventure.
While Peter Jackson contributed to the script and is a producer, he did not direct Mortal Engines. It is directed by Christian Rivers, and this is a surprisingly large project given that it is his first time as director of a feature film. However, he does have plenty of experience serving Peter Jackson as a storyboard and visual effects artist, and he has directed some short films.
Mortal Engines will be released in theaters in the United States on December 14, 2018. It is based on the Mortal Engines novels by Philip Reeve, with a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson. Stephen Lang, Hugo Weaving, Hera Hilmar, Frankie Adams, Robert Sheehan, Jihae, Ronan Raftery, Leila George, and Patrick Malahide.
Watch the Mortal Engines Official Trailer from Universal Pictures:
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.
If you missed it, here is the Mortal Engines Official Teaser Trailer:
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.
Here is the Mortal Engines theatrical poster:
