Weta's 10 Latest Movie Articles

The Hobbit [2012, 2013, 2014]

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:50:46 +1300

From Academy Award®-winning director Peter Jackson, the trilogy of films is set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

The screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first film in the trilogy, is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the films, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

Under Jackson’s direction, all three movies are being shot in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Additional filming, as with principal photography, is taking place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (which opened December 2012) and the two remaining films in the trilogy are productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing, being handled by MGM.

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is slated for release December 13 2013 and "The Hobbit: There and Back Again" for December 17, 2014. respectively.

To be kept up to date about The Hobbit:

Elysium [2013]

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:31:22 +1300

We are excited to announce that we've been involved in the conceptual design and physical effects for Elysium, a new film by Director Neill Blomkamp.

The film is currently scheduled for a March 2013 release.

Neill Blomkamp received an Oscar Nomination for the 2009 film District 9, for which Weta not only created a range of design, special effects, props, costumes and vehicles, but also a range of collectible prop replicas and statues for collectors and fans the world over.

Find out more about Elysium at MRCStudios.com

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Mad Max: Fury Road [2012]

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:46:37 +1200

We're thrilled to announce our involvement with Mad Max: Fury Road, a long-awaited continuation of the Mad Max suite, the last installment of which, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, premiered 25 years ago.

As with previous Mad Max movies, George Miller is the director and Weta is very excited to be working with George on conceptual design, Specialty Make-Up FX, Costume and Dummies. The movie is currently scheduled for a 2012 release.

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Avatar [2009]

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:16:20 +1300

Just Added: Images of the guns Weta created for Avatar. If you would like to know more about the guns, please tune in to the Weta Cast Episode XV!

Avatar was released on December 18, 2009.

We will shortly add some more images detailing Weta Workshop's work on:

Conceptual Design
Speciality Costumes
Props

District 9 [2009]

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:44:47 +1300

Weta's design team, including concept designers Greg Broadmore, David Meng and Leri Greer, created a fantastical world for director Neill Blomkamp's movie District 9. Weta also contributed the actual props (including the weapons and the Toyota Hi-Luxes) and specialty costumes for the film.

Exoskeletal aliens, DNA activated technology, a classic flying saucer re-invented. All fitting smartly into a world that profoundly blurs the boundaries between fantasy and reality. Oh-so-familiar themes, but brand new adversaries. Über-cool tech in a world that is instantly recognisable.

David Meng designed and sculpted the Prawns (the derogatory term used for the stranded aliens in the film).

Greg Broadmore designed the alien technology, the vehicles and the weapons. The rambunctious exo suit was conceived and designed by Greg and modelled by Weta Digital.

Leri Greer was in charge of the graphical language and the items that brought the final believability to the movie.

Please check out the conceptual art to get an idea of what's involved in creating cutting-edge science fiction.

Daybreakers [2010]

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:12:50 +1300

Check out the official site!

Weta Workshop has been working on conceptual designs, special make-up effects and prosthetics for this vampire film.

Australian Filmmakers Peter and Michael Spierig have directed the vampire horror feature. The film has been shot on location in Australia. Richard Taylor has personally overseen the project with Steve Boyle undertaking the creature art direction. Steve has previously worked with the Spierigs on 'Undead'.

Nick Meyer stated: 'Lionsgate actively seeks out talented filmmakers from around the world whose work has global appeal and Peter and Michael Spierig are trailblazers in the independent horror genre. They really wowed us with their ingenious and ground-breaking creativity. As a result, 'Daybreakers' is an extremely imaginative script combining emotion and action with a truly original spin on the vampire story.'

Australian producer Chris Brown ('The Proposition') of Pictures In Paradise produced 'Daybreakers' in conjunction with Sean and Bryan Furst ('The Matador', 'The Cooler') in association with Lionsgate.

Lionsgate is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable source of recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

www.lionsgate.com

Under The Mountain [2009]

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:07:32 +1300

The New Zealand Film Commission and Capitol Films are investing in a new feature film to be based on the classic fantasy novel by Maurice Gee. The film, Under The Mountain, is to be the second feature directed by Jonathan King, whose first feature was Black Sheep. It was shot in Auckland in 2008, with creature design and special effects by Weta Workshop.

It is a fantasy adventure about teenage twins who battle dark forces hidden beneath Auckland's volcanoes. "I want to deliver a scary and exciting adventure for teenage audiences," says Jonathan King. "The story will contrast its contemporary Auckland city setting with a fantastic subterranean world beneath."

The producers will be Jonathan King and Matthew Grainger of Index Films Limited and Richard Fletcher of Liberty Films Limited in Wellington. Chris Hampson, Chris Bailey and Trevor Haysom will be executive producers. The new feature has been written by Matthew Grainger and Jonathan King.

The original novel is published in New Zealand by Penguin and has sold more than 70,000 copies since its publication in 1979. In 1982 a television series terrorised and thrilled a generation of kiwis - the filmmakers hope that their new film will do the same to the world.

The Lovely Bones [2009]

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:07:21 +1300

Weta Digital has been heavily involved in Peter Jackson's adaptation of the Alice Sebold novel.

Weta Workshop contributed Conceptual Design and Specialty Props for the movie.

The Adventures of Tintin [2011]

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:09:25 +1300

Opens in Europe 26 October 2011!

The adventures of popular Belgian comic-strip hero Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy.

Directed by Steven Spielberg.

Designs by Weta Workshop and digital work by Weta Digital.

For international release dates, please go to Tintin-Movie.net

The Dam Busters

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:14:17 +1200

In Production

Weta Workshop will create the physical effects and miniatures necessary to fully realise the Peter Jackson produced film "The Dam Busters". The film is based on the book The Dam Busters by Paul Brickhill and the 1955 Associated British Picture Corporation motion picture and will be directed by Christian Rivers.

The Wingnut Films production will be produced by Jan Blenkin, Carolynne Cunningham and Peter Jackson, with Sir David Frost and Ken Kamins serving as Executive Producers. “This is one of the most remarkable true stories to come out of World War II”, said Peter. “When Michael Anderson made his thrilling version of this story in 1955, many details of the dams raid were still a closely guarded secret. It has since been declassified by the British Government, making the dynamics of the story and the people involved even more intriguing."

"That, combined with our ability to harness state-of-the-art computer generated visual effects, will enable us to bring the events of these desperate days of 1943 to life in a very visceral way. This is an astonishing story that continues to be revered in British Commonwealth history, and our hope is to make their exploits known to more of the world and extend their legacy to a generation that might not otherwise recognise their inspiration and sacrifice.”

The Dam Busters is an inspirational story of heroism and one of the most daring missions in aeronautic military history. “Peter Jackson is the ideal producer for a remake of The Dam Busters”, said Sir David Frost. “Not only because of his film-making genius, but also because of his aeronautical expertise and his unique understanding of the human pressures wrought by war.”

Academy Award® Winner Christian Rivers will direct the film. Rivers has worked with Jackson for over 17 years. First as a storyboard artist while still at school, then as an animator, pre-vis supervisor and second unit director, culminating in his work as animation director on Jackson’s King Kong, which won him a 2006 Academy Award® for Best Visual Effects (an honor Rivers shared with Joe Letteri, Brian Van’t Hul and Richard Taylor).

Rivers said the story had a special place during his childhood. “I grew up with The Dam Busters mythology as part of my heritage” he said. “I remember seeing it for the first time on television in England with my grandfather. I’ll never forget marveling at the image of the bouncing bomb punching across the water. This is one of the most revered stories of British ingenuity and heroism. We intend to be true to the values of the era in which these events took place.”