In the wake of the passion of the christ, the expected deluge of bigbudget christian entertainments has never quite materialized, but the logline for the postapocalyptic thriller the book of eli about a biblical warrior who protects the last known copy of the good book suggests a late start. Now comes the gary whitta original scripted, the book of eli. A star wars story, the book of eli teams with celebrated artist darick robertson transmetropolitan, happy. The book of eli by gary whitta wgaw 11632 june 21, 2007. Read the next installment of the gary whitta interview after the jump. Jan 15, 2010 written by gary whitta, with some rewriting by anthony peckham, the story takes a wrong turn once solara enters the picture, first as bait for eli he doesnt bite and then as his unwanted. The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neowestern action film directed by the hughes brothers, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel. The movie the book of eli, released in 2010 and directed by albert hughes, allen hughes, was shot on digital using red one camera and panavision primo anamorphic lenses with don burgess as cinematographer and editing by cindy mollo. I edited pc gamer magazine from 19932000 before starting a new career as a screenwriter. He also cowrote the will smith scifi movie after earth, and was writer and story consultant on telltale games the walking dead. A few months back, i had the opportunity to interview screenwriter gary whitta. Rogue one, the book of eli, star wars rebels, the walking dead, and other stuff. Cast includes jennifer beals, mila kunis, gary oldman, ray stevenson and denzel washington. Interview with the book of eli s gary whitta shax jan 8 2010, 3.
Use the onscreen time code to sync it up with your copy of the movie. Gary leslie whitta born 21 july 1972 is an english screenwriter, author, game designer, and video game journalist. Whitta is one of the main men responsible for elis audacity and talking to him for an hour and forty minutes was a real treat. How star wars writer gary whitta used animal crossing to. Again, you can do all the samurai references with loan wolf and as you said theres kind of a classic mythic master and apprentice relationship going on through the film. Ive written on projects like the liveaction feature adaptations of akira and world of warcraft. He is cowriter of the upcoming star wars movie rogue one as well as the animated series star wars rebels.
Interview with gary whitta, author of abomination aidan moher. Pictures the book of eli and sony pictures after earth, comes from the video game industry. Whatever caused this apocalypse is undisclosed, but it becomes clear that religion was blamed and holy books the. He was also a writer and story consultant on telltale games interactive adaptation of the walking dead, for which he was the corecipient of a bafta award. Jan 08, 2010 interview with the book of eli s gary whitta shax jan 8 2010, 3. Gary whitta might best be known as a screenwriterpenning popular science fiction films such as the book of eli and the upcoming star wars. Jan 14, 2010 interview with gary whitta, the writer of the book of eli. The trees stripped of their bark and white like ghosts. The following interview has been split up into five parts. He is known as the former editorinchief of both the uk and us editions of pc gamer magazine and contributor to gaming magazine ace.
May 04, 2010 screenwriter gary whitta talks about the themes and ideas behind the book of eli during filming in new mexico, february 2009. Jan 15, 2010 but thats where the significant symbolism of the book of eli which was written by gary whitta begins and ends. Denzel washington in a world where it pays to be a loner. As someone who only knew gary whitta from his cameos on the technology podcast this is only a test, i was pleasantly surprised to discover his career as a screenwriter, and even more as a recently published author. A postapocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across america in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. The book of eli 2010 technical specifications shotonwhat. A few months back, i had the opportunity to interview screenwriter gary whitta whose movie credits include the book of eli 2010, after earth 20, and the upcoming star wars. Part 1 gary whitta on the book of eli the film stage. A civilization is destroyed only when its gods are destroyed. Night shyamalan, and codeveloped the story for rogue one 2016. The book of eli was written by gary whitta, a newcomer with only one other credit to his imdb resume the forthcoming liveaction version of akira and as directed by allen and albert hughes, it. Well, it was a difficult one because she really is the key relationship to eli. Gary whitta the book of eli todays interview is with screenwriter gary whitta, whose movie the book of eli opens this weekend.
The book of eli screenwriter gary whitta provides a commentary track. Gary whitta on book of eli genre screenwriter gary whitta geeked out with the wondercon crowd friday, relating his artistic struggle to bring the book of eli to the big screen, embarrassing moments with denzel washington, and more. In the interview below, australian filmmaker aaron stevenson suggests that screenwriter. Maybe the book takes off, maybe it doesnt, but at least i know that the version i put out there is the one that i wanted to tell, says whitta. For more you want to see more videos like this one please support the channel by liking this. Screenwriters who want control should be writing novels.
The book of eli, valentines day, theater of war, hamlet 2, test pilot, prince valiant, in the line of fire, life unxpected, temple grandin. Garry whitta wrote the screenplay for the postapocalyptic thriller the book of eli, starring denzel washington and gary oldman, and also worked on the script. In an interview with film, whitta was asked about whether he may be involved in a remake of the last starfighter. Denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis directed by. The point here is that cliches and borrowed motifs are not merely writ. Gary whitta is an awardwinning screenwriter best known for the book of eli starring denzel washington.
The book of eli by gary whitta raindance film festival. Garry whitta wrote the screenplay for the postapocalyptic thriller the book of eli, starring denzel washington and gary oldman, and also worked on the script for after earth, an sf adventure starring will smith and directed by m. Interview with gary whitta, the writer of the book of eli. The last starfighter 2 video teases possible sequel from. How gary whitta turned an unproduced screenplay into. Albert hughes from hell and allen hughes from hell written by. Screenwriter gary whitta said that his story was influenced by an obscure british apocalyptic movie. Stark gray sunlight shafts between the trees, clouded by a.
In the wake of the passion of the christ, the expected deluge of bigbudget christian entertainments has never quite materialized, but the logline for the postapocalyptic thriller the book of. Jan 15, 2010 the book of eli is the road with twice the plot, four times the ammunition, and half the brains. Abomination, id like to explore the movie the book of eli, which you wrote. The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic action film directed by the hughes brothers, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis, ray stevenson and.
Last starfighter sequel is super close to happening, says. The point here is that cliches and borrowed motifs are not merely written, as in 8. Eli dear lord, thank you for your generosity in providing us today. The former video game journalist penned the story for telltale games episodic games based on robert kirkmans comic book, the walking dead. The book of eli is more than just a good action film. Jan, 2010 the book of eli is a protowestern with a hero driven by the most manifest destiny of all. Interview with the book of elis gary whitta geekweek. Our third installment of the indepth gary whitta interview talks about the movies book of eli and after earth, and his new book abomination. But the truth is oliver was originally conceived and written as a. Todays interview is with screenwriter gary whitta, whose movie the book of eli opens this weekend.
Alcon entertainment presents a silver pictures production. Eli sits in the corner, roasting the carcass of the dead cat over a small campfire. Feb 28, 2015 however, according to screenwriter gary whitta after earth, the book of eli, it isnt for lack of wanting on hollywoods part. High resolution official movie posters for the book of eli 2010 directed by albert hughesallen hughes.
The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neowestern action film directed by the hughes brothers, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis, ray stevenson, and jennifer beals. How gary whitta turned an unproduced screenplay into oliver. Starring denzel washington and gary oldman, the book of eli is a stunning postapocalyptic thriller in which a nomadic warrior washington travels a futuristic american wasteland on a mission to protect the last surviving copy of a sacred text. Gary whitta is an awardwinning screenwriter best known for the postapocalyptic thriller the book of eli. As the writer for films like after earth and the book of eli as well as one of the writers for telltales the walking dead, whitta has been able to explore a variety of storytelling techniques. The book of eli 2010 is both underappreciated and a secret. Gary whitta talks book of eli, after earth and his novel abomination posted on wednesday, february 25th, 2015 by peter sciretta to promote the preorder of his first novel. A star wars story revealed during a twitch stream thursday. Working from a script by gary whitta, the hughes brothers, albert and allen, have made a stark. A sequel to 1984s the last starfighter is closer to happening than its ever been, screenwriter gary whitta the book of eli, rogue one.
Knowing the quality of his work with the book of eli, i leaped at the chance to read his first novel. Gary has written for video games and comics and he also worked on the upcoming feature film star wars. Pokes at the meat with a penknife, checking it for doneness. Apr 10, 2014 gary whitta, the hollywood scribe behind warner bros. Having recently seen his first novel abomination published, gary and i had a wideranging conversation touching on a host of subjects which i think readers will find quite interesting. May 21, 2020 whitta, a screenwriter who wrote 2010s the book of eli, 20s after earth and codeveloped the story for rogue one. You sold the book of eli in may 2007 to warner bros. Jan 15, 2010 the book of eli 2010, 118 minutes, rated r directed by albert hughes and allen hughes, written by gary whitta starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis released by alcon entertainment related stories. Gary whitta is a producer and director, known for rogue one. Gary whitta wants to make a last starfighter remake. Writer gary whitta spoke with cbr news in a oneonon interview discussing the nature of the book of eli, the caliber of acting involved and the miracle of a movie that looks and feels like what the original writer put to paper. He was editorinchief of both the uk and us editions of pc gamer magazine and contributor to gaming magazine ace. A star wars story 2016, after earth 20 and the book of eli 2010.
After earth screenwriter gary whitta talks book of eli sequel and. He was editorinchief of both the uk and us editions of pc gamer magazine and contributor to gaming magazine ace whitta was the screenwriter of the book of eli 2010, cowrote after earth 20 with m. The title of the movie seems to suggest that, like books of the bible, this is the book about eli i. Smith had his production company overbrook contact gary whitta who was then known for his script for the book of eli with a simple log line for a film. Dec 17, 2014 but the book of eli s screenwriter gary whitta attached to write an upcoming star wars entry, and a tried and true one of us type nerd builds a fairly defined world in which to tell eli s story of a mission from god. Mar 25, 2021 the pitch by gary whitta and original screenwriter jonathan r. I wrote the denzel washington movie the book of eli. According to whitta, there are many people within the industry who would love to remake the 80s. When eli encounters a group of road bandits, behind them is a tunnel structure with a bold 14. Eli makes his way through this troubled futureville landscape, shooting and. Genre screenwriter gary whitta geeked out with the wondercon crowd friday, relating his artistic struggle to bring the book of eli to the big screen. Being a postapocalyptic movie, that writing can be referenced to an apocalyptic book in the bible, revelation.
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