Asa Butterfield Talks Flash Suits, Sequels, and More!

Asa+Butterfield+14th+Annual+Young+Hollywood+N7LUxW275-xlAiming at PG-13 Rating

In a recent interview with IGN, Ender Wiggin actor, Asa Butterfield, openly talked about the ‘Ender’s Game’ movie. He debunked the rumor that the movie will include bits of ‘Ender’s Shadow’ and said that the production team is aiming at a PG-13 rating.

IGN: Can you talk about Gavin Hood’s approach to shooting those scenes and creating the zero gravity effect in the battle room? What kinds of stunts can we expect?

Butterfield: Those are surprisingly difficult to shoot. We had a lot of training, and a lot of talks with people who had been to space about what it’s like in zero gravity and how it affects your movements so that we could try and recreate it in the most believable way. Of course we’re hanging from harnesses, which aren’t the most comfortable things to wear, and we’re wearing Flash Suits ***, which also weren’t the most comfortable things to wear. So you were very hot and sweaty and stiff when you were up there and yet had to keep the movements smooth and fluid, which is what it’s like in zero gravity. So you have to keep your body loose, basically. But in order to stop your body from falling over in the harness you have to completely tense up. So doing all this whilst saying your lines is really hard. But we had a lot of training for it, and I’m pretty sure it looks good.

IGN: With such great characters, and so much story to tell, has anyone talked to you about the possibility of sequels? 

Butterfield: Well I really hope there is. It lets me play Ender more, and I really love the character, but I think it depends on how well this film does.

Read the full interview on IGN to learn more about the battle room, visuals, shooting in zero gravity and more!

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

Full Interview with Card and Johnston from the 2013 LA Times Festival of Books

IMG_0155-vert singleFull Audio – movie, new Enderverse material, a possible TV show and more!

On the weekend of April 20, 2013 we had the privilege to attend a conversation between Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston at the Los Angeles Festival of Books. When Card and Johnston entered the auditorium there was a loud excitement from the crowd of about 250. After Orson Scott Card took time to introduce Aaron Johnston, Johnston began to ask Card questions that the audience was previously asked to submit. Card spoke about the possibility of an ‘Ender’s Game’ movie sequel, what fans can expect of book to film changes, his time on the movie set, upcoming Enderverse stories, a possible Enderverse TV show, and what happens to the Enderverse when he dies.

Here are the highlights:

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Photos: ‘Ender’s Game’ at the 2013 LA Festival of Books

The Day in Photos

Hello Ansible readers! Over the weekend we attended the 2013 Los Angeles Festival of Books. Here’s a round up of ‘Ender’s Game’ photos from various sections of the book festival.

At the Summit Entertainment booth they printed free ‘Ender’s Game’ T-shirts and gave out mini posters and buttons. A special thanks to the printer guy who modeled his ‘Ender’s Game’ shirt for us. (Center image via Twitter, the only non-original image.)

photo (5)-horzHere are some photos from Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston’s hilarious conversation. Note a crowd of about 250 people. Click here to read highlights and listen to their entire conversation.IMG_0155-vertAnd here’s a look at their book signing directly after the conversation! A special thanks to @Endersspeakers from Ender’s Game Fandom who met up with us. Together we waited in that crazy line three hours to get books signed!

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

Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford and Hailee Steinfeld Press Conference at CinemaCon 2013

hailee-steinfeld-isla-fisher-cinemacon-cuties-35Ford Didn’t Read ‘Ender’s Game’

Two videos have surfaced online of Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford at a CinemaCon 2013 press conference last week, where the ‘Ender’s Game’ movie trailer was shown. Asa Butterfield calls ‘Ender’s Game’ “life-changing” and Ender Wiggin “a dream.” He also says that the story “stayed almost entirely truthful to the book” and that there was a lot of green screen on set, even though the details were flawless.

Asa describes how much he appreciates ‘Ender’s Game’ fans.

“The story for ‘Ender’s Game’s has so much of a following that it really meant a lot for me to be able to play that character who so many people love. It was so much fun filming it. There’s such an incredible cast and incredible crew as well. I had a great time.”

Asa also gushes Harrison Ford and and Ender’s Game director, Gavin Hood.

“Harrison’s amazing. When I just saw him I was like “Oh my God! It’s Han Solo!” […] Working with him is an honor. He’s an incredible actor, but he’s also an amazing person. He’s really kind and really generous with his knowledge. […]”

“Gavin’s so enthusiastic and gives so much motivation to the actors. There are loads of kids on the set, extras and the cast, and Gavin, partially because he wrote the screen play, he knew the characters back to front and he knew exactly what he wanted. When they needed some more umph to the scene he was there to come on stage. He gave it all. He gave more than the actors. […] It’s inspirational, it really is, not just to me but the other actors, the adult actors on set as well.”

Watch Asa below:
During Harrison Ford’s hilarious press conference he admitted that he hadn’t read the ‘Ender’s Game’ novel before he read the script. He also discusses working with a young cast and why he wanted the role of Colonel Graff.

“I just thought it was something we have not seen. I thought the story was prescient about things we’re seeing in our lives right now. […] I thought it had an interesting moral question behind it which is articulated in the film and I thought it would really be a good film or movie on top of that.”

Watch Harrison Ford below:

Edit: Here’s Hailee’s video where she says she would read the entire Enderverse if she had the time.

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

 

Ben Kingsley Says Lots of Green Screen on ‘Ender’s Game’ Set

ben-kingsley_lMazer is a Maori Warrior

In a recent interview with Daily Record, Sir Ben Kingsley talk about his work as Mazer Rackham in the ‘Ender’s Game’ movie. “I play Mazer Rackham, who is a combination of an ancient Maori warrior and a teacher who trains children how to operate drones.” He then compares his work on ‘Iron Man 3’ with ‘Ender’s Game.’ Sir Ben Kingsley says, “But with Ender’s Game, which I think will be a wonderful film, there was a lot of green screen”

We all knew there was going to be green screen used in the battle room scnes, but where else do you think a green screen was used?

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

‘Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead” Omnibus Edition Full Jacket Design

On Sale May 8th

As we previously reported, ‘Ender’s Game’ and ‘Speaker for the Dead’ will be included under a special omnibus edition titled ‘Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead’ next month. The sale of this special edition hardcover will not be open to the public. You must be a member of the Science Fiction Book Club to access the sale of the novel on May 8th, 2013.

Matthew Kalamidas from the Science Fiction Book Club is hard at work putting the finishing touches on the full jacket design. Check it out below:

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For more information about the cover art (including an interview with the artist) click here. Also, click here to view the SFBC’s listing of ‘Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead.’

Thank you Matthew Kalamidas for the tip (image via Vorpalizer)!

Rumor Control: ‘Ender’s Game’ Trailer Will NOT Debut Online Next Week

Ender's GameNo Date Yet

We apologize for disappointing ‘Ender’s Game’ fans across the nets, but we have confirmed with Summit Entertainment that the online trailer for ‘Ender’s Game’ will NOT debut next week despite circulating rumors. There is still no official date attached to the release of the ‘Ender’s Game’ trailer. Read press reactions to the trailer here.

Check out Darian’s analysis of the film’s battle room while you wait:

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

Reminder: Card and Johnston at the Los Angeles Festival of Books

festivalofbooksMeet Up

This is a reminder that ‘Ender’s Game’ author, Orson Scott Card, and his First Formic War Trilogy co-author, Aaron Johnston, will be at the Los Angeles Festival of Books at USC tomorrow Saturday April 20.

Aaron Johnston will interview Card at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center from 1:30PM – 2:30PM. It’s conversation #1063. For those Ender fans in the Los Angeles area, know that it’s free to attend, but you should get there early to request a ticket/ seat.

Card and Johnston will be signing books at the Mysterious Galaxy Booth #368 from 4PM – 5PM. You can bring up to 3 books to be signed. If you want to bring more books than that you’ll have to get in the back of the line.

Owner and editor of Ender’s Ansible and the Philotic Ansible podcast co-host, Cassandra, will be there to meet readers and give out some free Ender’s Game goodies so make sure you find her! Tweet us, leave a message on Facebook, or comment below if you plan on going!

Follow our live tweets on @EndersAnsible on Saturday to find us at the event!

A special thanks to Jennifer!

UPDATE: Summit Entertainment will occupy booth #735 in the YA section and that they will pressing FREE ‘Ender’s Game’ and ‘Divergent’ T-shirts! They also have free ‘Ender’s Game’ pins and posters!

Win an Advanced Reading Copy of ‘Earth Afire’ by Card and Johnston

Earth Afire5 ARC Copies

Goodreads is giving away 5 copies of an advanced reading copy of ‘Earth Afire’ by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. ‘Earth Afire’ is the second of three planned novels in the First Formic War Trilogy. This Ender’s Game prequel trilogy focuses on humanity’s first interaction with the formics.

Click here to enter the giveaway!

‘Earth Afire’ will hit bookstores on June 4, 2013. Pre-order it now.

Thanks @AaronWJohnston for the tip!

CinemaCon 2013 Pictures

More in Events Album

Here are a few photos of the ‘Ender’s Game’ crew at CinemaCon 2013. For more pictures from CinemaCon 2013 and other events, see the Events Album.

Asa Butterfield (Ender) received the Rising Star of 2013 Award:

Asa+Butterfield+Celebs+CinemaCon+Awards+Ceremony+6W_86FA4vkvx

Hailee Steinfeld and Asa presented the ‘Ender’s Game’ trailer:

Hailee+Steinfeld+Celebs+Promote+Their+Films+pXO9WVufHKyx

Harrison Ford received the Lifetime Achievement Award:

CinemaCon+2013+Awards+Ceremony+Arrivals+NUUAIQDUUd2l

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