Ender's Ansible

Scared Extras!

While dishing acting tips to Backstage, Moises Arias admitted that he’s a little like his character, Bonzo Madrid. Bonzo Madrid is Ender’s commander at Battle School. He describes how he scared some of the extras,

“I actually stayed in character the whole time I was on set. I heard the extras were scared of me. I wasn’t doing it on purpose, I was just trying to stay in the mindset. At the end they finally started talking to me and admitted to me that I had scared them.”

‘Ender’s Game’ extra @kelvharrJR tells us, “He never smiled… Until the last week.”

The ‘Ender’s Game’ film will be released in U.S. theaters on November 1, 2013.

Any Me Anything!

As promised, Ender Wiggin actor, Asa Butterfield, is asking Reddit users to “ask me anything!” Reddit is known as the front page of the Internet. He may or may not answer certain questions depending in what he’s allowed to say about the ‘Ender’s Game’ movie. Ask away!

Enjoy!

Edit: Asa answered questions about the Bonzo/shower scene and more!

Q: Hi Asa, The Stinson and Bonzo scenes in the book they are very dark and very pivotal to the mindset of Ender, how true does the movie hold to the book for that scene?

A: Very, me, Gavin and the other actors had long discussions about those scenes. I’m sure they will do justice to the way they written in the story. And like in the book, they are pivotal to Enders journey.

Q: Before playing Ender, how much did you prepare in terms of researching the character? Also, what did you find most challenging about playing Ender?

A: Before I had even been offered the part, me and Gavin had numerous Skype sessions where we talked about character and the themes in the book. As with any adaptation, the original is a huge resource for an actor, and reading the book was no different. It gave a huge insight into the work and mind of Ender and in turn, it let me develop the character that much more.

Q: How long is the movie going to be? Were you offered the role of Ender or was there a competition for it? If the latter, who else applied and why were you chosen over them? Have you met Orson Scott Card? I figure you must have. How is he in person?

A: I haven’t seen the final cut so I have no clue as to how long it will be. There was a large amount of competition for the role, I’m not saying any name. But it was the hardest I have ever fought to get the part in a film. And yes, Orson came to the set once where I met him.

Q:  I’m probably going to weep during your movie. Don’t worry; it’s not your fault. Thanks for putting my childhood hero on the screen.

A: I’m thrilled that the book meant so much to you, and I hope the film lives up to it. In answer to your question, the feeling of joining a group of people that was already so vast felt amazing. I really was like joining a family. When I first got the role, I said to my mum. ‘If there is one thing I want to accomplish by doing this, it is to make the lovers of the book happy. I don’t want it to be another Hollywood sci-fi piece of shit’. And from what I’ve seen so far, I can tell you that it is incredible.

Q: Are we gonna get naked kids beating the crap out of each other in the shower in Ender’s Game, cause that was easily 90% of the appeal of the books for me.

A: This is just my interpretation, but if they had kids marching up and down corridors naked. I’m pretty sure this would be more X rated than R rated.

Q: But are the fights anywhere near as brutal as in the book? Please say yes…

A: The fights are brutal, and very real. But I’m pretty sure we are aiming at PG-13 so bare that in mind.

The ‘Ender’s Game’ film will be released in U.S. theaters on November 1, 2013.

WARNING: PURE SPECULATION BELOW

Here’s a little speculation based on all our screen grabs of the new ‘Ender’s Game’ trailer.

This still appears to be a gate to the battle room. Notice the “stars” that are cut off at the top of the picture.

Here’s another shot of a battle room gate. Is that Petra and Ender? This is possibly the scene where Petra teaches Ender to shoot. Notice gate B in the background, the same gate we saw in the production blog last year.

Here Major Anderson appears to be analyzing a brain scan. She looks sad. Could this from an injured student? Bonzo, maybe?

Obviously, the below image must be Bean’s tether that he uses in the battle room to appear to accelerate and change direction in zero-gravity.

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Ask Asa Anything!

Ender Wiggin actor, Asa Butterfield, took to Reddit after our Google Plus Hangout with him following the release of the first ‘Ender’s Game’ teaser trailer. He answered a few fan questions before calling it a night. He promises to do an AMA (Ask Me Anything) tomorrow morning (his time). You can submit questions to Asa by finding his thread on Reddit.com/r/AMA tomorrow.

Read a few of his responses from today below:

Q: Did you read the book before being offered the position as Ender? Or was it something you did after receiving the role?

A:I read the book as soon as I’d finished the script. It was something I was really really excited about

Q: I can’t really think of anything to ask that you wouldn’t get in trouble for answering. I’m a huge fan of the book. Will I be disappointed?

A: You won’t be disappointed, as long as you don’t go into the cinema thinking that the film will be 100% truthful to the book. And anything that might get me in trouble I’m just gunna ignore 😉