IGN unveiled a first look photo at Paul W.S. Anderson’s forthcoming video game adaptation, Monster Hunter. Actress Milla Jovovich and martial arts superstar Tony Jaa are seen in the new pic from the South African set of the film located at the Atlantis Dunes.
Behind our world, there is another: a world of dangerous and powerful monsters that rule their domain with deadly ferocity. When Lt. Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her loyal soldiers are transported from our world to the new world, the unflappable lieutenant receives the shock of her life. In her desperate battle for survival against enormous enemies with incredible powers and unstoppable, revolting attacks, Artemis will team up with a mysterious man who has found a way to fight back.
The film is based on the hit game franchise from Capcom which launched for the Playstation 2 in 2004. The report, from Jim Vejvoda and Casey Defreitas, also cite Anderson as a self-avowed “long-term fan of the game,” with details on how he and his crew worked on staying true to the game – aside from Jovovich’s Natalie Artemis being an original character – from costumes and weapons such as Jaa’s Jawblade, to the topographical locations to be used in the movie.
“We’re going into a much more rocky landscapes as well, we’re getting out of the desert and going much more rocky. There’s a chunk of the movie that’s actually set underground as well, in terrifying caves,” Anderson said. “There’s a more lush part of the movie, which kind of reflects the kind of lush, more jungle-y look of the Monster Hunter world. And then the climax of the movie takes place around a piece of the Ancient Civilization that’s, it’s kind of referenced many times in the Monster Hunter games.”
Anderson continued, “The idea that there was this Ancient Civilization that existed in the deep parts, and which, when you’re playing the games, you sometimes kind of stumble upon the ruins of this civilization, an advanced civilization that brought about its own destruction. And one of those sets of ruins provides a big backdrop for the final act of the film. So it’s a pretty varied landscape. I mean, you’re not gonna get as many landscapes as you would if you spent fifty hours playing Monster Hunter World, but I think for a two-hour movie, you’re going to really go on an amazing journey with amazing visuals.”
The film also stars Ron Perlman, T.I., Megan Good and Diego Boneta. Stay tuned for more info.