EnderWiggin.net – Ender's Game Movie Fansite

Tag: Mazer Rackham

  • Ben Kingsley Found Tā Moko “Very Empowering”

    Ben Kingsley Found Tā Moko “Very Empowering”

    Mazer-Rackham

    When Sir Ben Kingsley spoke recently to the Wall Street Journal’s Barbara Chai about his character the Mandarin in Iron Man 3, he also spoke briefly about his Ender’s Game role as Mazer Rackham and the facial tattoos, known in Maori tradition as “tā moko”.

    He also mentions a bit of Mazer’s background story.

    “I had the privilege of being advised and guided by a Maori who knows all about Ta Moko [Maori tattoo] and what each line and design means – its ancestry,” Kingsley said in an interview. “When it’s accurately and beautifully presented, it’s very empowering for the actor. To be able to put that on and allow it to tell its own story, and then you breathe life into it yourself.”

    Kingsley said his key into Mazer was that the character loved his Maori father, a warrior whom he had lost in the Great Battle for the planet.

    What do you guys think? Is it possible the pilot we’re seeing in the trailer isn’t Mazer, but Mazer’s father?

    Source: WSJ

  • IF-Sentinel.com Launches Mission Statement and More

    IF-Sentinel.com Launches Mission Statement and More

    Those of you that have been waiting for the IF-Sentinel site to update need wait no longer! The official Ender’s Game I.F. site, which is operating on Tumblr, updated this morning with five stories that will help to immerse fans into the Enderverse.

    IF-Sentinel3

    The stories introduce people to the purpose of the IF, which states:

    United under a single, harmonious government, the International Fleet serves to protect the Earth from another global invasion, while striving to maintain order and propel human progress on Earth.

    It also establishes the concept of Thirds, introduces a campaign to honor Mazer Rackham, and mentions what sounds like I.F. preschools called Tactical and Strategic Training Academies.

    IF-Sentinel1

    The screenshot above is with the Mazer Rackham story, so this is presumably Kyle Clements playing young Mazer.

    The I.F. has selected archivist Stephen Trawcki to head a new program that will draw deep connections between the military heroism and numerous accomplishments of Mazer Rackham’s life that can teach us all to be better citizens. “No one was spared from the attack,” says Trawcki, “it’s the job of survivors to make sure we never forget those who are gone and honor the hero who saved us.”

    They’ve also got the overview of a mysterious planet:

    IF-Sentinel2

     

    Could this be the home planet of the Formics or just one of their outposts?

    What do you guys think of the site? Check out all the stories for yourself!

     

  • Mazer Rackham Still in Entertainment Weekly on Stands Today

    Mazer Rackham Still in Entertainment Weekly on Stands Today

    Mazer-Rackham

    Those of you wanting to see Sir Ben Kingsley as Mazer Rackham in print can pick up the May 10th edition of Entertainment Weekly on newsstands today. Will post a scan once I pick my copy up from the post office tomorrow! Who knows, maybe they’ve included some print exclusive quotes!

    Here’s the cover to look for, since I know some stores take a couple of days to replace last week’s issue:

    EW-Iron-Man

  • EW.com Exclusively Reveals First Look at Ben Kingsley as Mazer Rackham in ‘Ender’s Game’

    EW.com Exclusively Reveals First Look at Ben Kingsley as Mazer Rackham in ‘Ender’s Game’

    Mazer-Rackham

    In anticipation of the trailer’s global debut next week on May 7, Summit/Lionsgate has given EW.com the exclusive first look at Sir Ben Kingsley as Mazer Rackham.

    As many book fans know, the character of Mazer is actually a book twist, but the film doesn’t seem to be going this route since Mazer is mentioned in the official synopsis.

    In the near future, a hostile alien race (called the Formics) have attacked Earth. If not for the legendary heroics of International Fleet Commander, Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley), all would have been lost. In preparation for the next attack, the highly esteemed Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) and the International Military are training only the best young children to find the future Mazer. Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy, but strategically brilliant boy is pulled out of his school to join the elite.

    Arriving at Battle School, Ender quickly and easily masters increasingly difficult war games, distinguishing himself and winning respect amongst his peers. Ender is soon ordained by Graff as the military’s next great hope, resulting in his promotion to Command School. Once there, he’s trained by Mazer Rackham, himself, to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth and save the human race.

    EW spoke to Ben Kingsley a bit about the role.

    Director and co-writer Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) was key, according to Kingsley, as was the  make-up and  costume team working with Kingsley to breathe life into the half-Maori war hero, who is an almost mythical presence in Orson Scott Card’s 1980s bestseller.

    “In the script, which I think is beautifully written, what come across is the authority and mystery,” Kingsley said of Rackham, a man who saved earth once and may have to do it again. “There’s quite a lot said about him in the story  before you see him — by the recruits and by his fellow officers — and that’s useful as far as preparations.”

    Source: EW.com

  • Ben Kingsley Says ‘Ender’s Game’ Will Be “A Wonderful Film”

    Ben Kingsley Says ‘Ender’s Game’ Will Be “A Wonderful Film”

    Marvel's Iron Man 3 Premiere

    Actor Ben Kingsley is doing a lot of press for the release of Iron Man 3 and spoke briefly to the Coventry Telegraph about his role as Mazer Rackham. Possible spoilers here for those who haven’t read the book!

    Ender’s Game is coming out later this year. How did that work out?

    Lovely, but quite different from the challenge of the Mandarin. With Mandarin I was very rarely involved in green screen. In Gandhi we had none. We actually had 4,000 people on screen for the funeral.

    In Ender’s Game we had a lot of green screen. The kids in the film were obviously challenged by being told ‘It is all going to be CGI-d later but you have to react’ . Gavin (Hood) looked after them so well and they did form a wonderful relationship with him. So that he would, where possible, talk them through what they were seeing while they were reacting to it.

    He really knocked himself out pumping energy into those kids who couldn’t see anything. I think it is going to be a wonderful film.

    Tell us about your role.

    Mazar Rackham. He is a combination of historically ancient warrior in that he is descended from Maori and has Maori tattooed on his face. And at the same time he is teaching children how to operate drones. So he is very advanced and also rooted in an ancient warrior tradition.

    Source: Coventry Telegraph

  • See Ben Kingsley as the Mandarin in ‘Iron Man 3’

    See Ben Kingsley as the Mandarin in ‘Iron Man 3’

    Marvel has released a new poster of Ben Kingsley as ‘Iron Man 3’ villain the Mandarin.

    Ben-Kingsley-Mandarin

    He looks really… well, villainous, don’t you think?

    I mentioned in my second set visit report that we got to interview Ben Kingsley. What I didn’t mention was that he was in full Mazer Rackham costume and makeup at the time! It was pretty shocking when he walked in and I can’t wait for them to come out with a poster like this one for Ender’s Game so that you guys can see what he looked like when we met him!

  • Kyle Clements on Filming ‘Ender’s Game’

    Kyle Clements on Filming ‘Ender’s Game’

    Actor Kyle Clements, who will be playing young Mazer Rackham in ‘Ender’s Game‘, recently spoke with his hometown newspaper about the work he’s done lately and he spoke a bit about his time on the set.

    “Ender’s Game” was a large scale production. You could have kids flying around on high wires on one stage while Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley were doing a scene on another stage. All the while I’m being spun around in the cockpit of a jet in another stage. It was crazy.”

    Clements plays a fighter pilot in “Ender’s Game,” which was nostalgic to him. Growing up, “Top Gun” was one of his favorite movies.

    “Having a role similar to that was very cool,” he said. “Two Navy pilots were even there as technical advisors.”

    Working on a 30-year-old beloved sci-fi novel has its perks.

    “’Ender’s Game’ has a huge fan base. When someone on the crew of ‘2 Guns’ heard I played Young Mazor Rackham in ‘Ender’s Game,’ he wanted a picture with me,” Clements said. “It’s flattering,” Clements said. “I encourage everyone to pursue their dreams, whatever they may be.”

    Hopefully he’s prepared for more of those fan encounters as November 2013 edges closer, as people have been waiting for this movie for decades!

    Source: Hammond Daily Star

  • Ben Kingsley to Play Mazer Rackham

    Ben Kingsley to Play Mazer Rackham

    Ben Kingsley

    According to the Hollywood Reporter, Ben Kingsley is in talks to play war hero Mazer Rackham in the movie adaptation of Ender’s Game, which is tentatively scheduled to begin principal photography next February, though the headline and the article give different versions of the story.

    Kingsley has worked with star Asa Butterfield before in last month’s Hollywood delight Hugo. Although there has yet to be studio confirmation on either Kingsley’s casting or more recently, Hailee Steinfeld in talks to play Petra Arkanian, Kingsley seems to be a great fit for the character, who is presumed dead by the world long after he single-handedly puts an end to the last Formic invasion. Rackham then becomes a mentor to Ender as he completes his training.

    Kingsley has played a wide variety of roles, with some of his most memorable being from Shindler’s List, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and House of Sand and Fog.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter