MouseInfo recently had the chance to sit down with cast and filmmakers from Disney’s newest mystery adventure movie TOMORROWLAND for a deeper look into the film. There has been a lot of mystery surrounding this project since the panel presentation and top secret exhibit at the last D23 EXPO so it was nice to get the chance to hear more from the people involved in the project.
We got to hear from the likes of George Clooney, Damon Lindelof, and Brad Bird about working on TOMORROWLAND which is in theaters today.
Jeff Jensen – Screenwriter
Jensen on how it felt to actually work on the movie, “But also, I thought I knew a lot about how movies are made and TV shows are made. And this was a real learning experience in how much I didn’t know.”
Speaking about some of the backstory and Walt’s influence, “Before Tomorrowland. Part of the work that we did in the story brainstorming process was conceiving this huge backstory for the film. And there’s lots of stories within stories. A lot of that informed the book and Walt makes a little cameo in there too. But a lot of Disney really inspired and informed the movie, especially, I think, Epcot, the whole idea and original idea behind Epcot, and how that evolved as a sort of laboratory for the future. That was a huge inspiration for the story.”
Damon Lindelof – Co-writer, Producer
Why Walt’s story was taken out of the movie, “There is a much longer version of this movie, not necessarily a better one, that is much more explicit about Walt’s involvement. But the idea is that it was very explicit about the idea that he was a member of Plus Ultra, and that Disneyland, particularly Tomorrowland and Disneyland, were covers for the actual Tomorrowland. Our feeling was that aside from trying to find that line in any movie when it gets bogged down by exposition and no longer becomes enjoyable to watch, the feeling was that by directly referencing Disney and Disneyland in a movie that is a Disney movie, it just suddenly felt like, “Oh, are we trying to sell tickets to go to the theme park,” when the theme park should be selling tickets to go and see Tomorrowland.”
Brad Bird – Co-producer, writer, director
Bird speaking on coming on board, “Oh, I don’t know. I was just happy to be asked to join, you know? I was inspired by the idea and I was an admirer of Damon’s work. And he did a little uncredited work at the very end of Mission. And it was a very tight series of things and you had to be very surgical. And Damon was really smart. So I asked what he was doing next during that time, and he mentioned this idea. And I was immediately hooked.”
Bird on how NASA influenced the movie, “and when we were first planning the movie, Damon and I were at Disney and the space shuttle took its last sort of circle over LA. And everybody came out and watched it, and there was this weird feeling of pride mixed with great sadness, like we’re not doing that anymore, and why aren’t we? So a chance to shoot at NASA was fantastic, and to be on this launchpad were so many really noble journeys started. And we got to watch a launch from the launchpad, which was one of the coolest moments on the film.”
Tim McGraw – Eddie Newton
Speaking about how this role was more true to life for him, “I was thinking of the scene where we were shooting in the car, Britt and I. we had a long conversation in the car. We were talking about life and talking about guys. It was pretty reminiscent of some of the conversations that I’ve had with my daughters. In fact, I had to be upset in that scene and I had just been upset with my daughter”
Speaking on how the moral of the movie can influence others, and how it influenced Tim. “Well, I think that’s the best way to use, you know, whatever you have, whatever cash you have, as a celebrity. It’s to be a mirror for those sorts of things, to cast a light back on those issues.”
Britt Robertson – Casey Newton
Britt spoke on the fact that even though Raffey was younger she was very much like the mother on set. “Well, I think Raffey played Mom a lot, especially with George and I, you know? She was constantly just trying to keep us focused and funny enough, that’s how she is in life too. I mean, not intentionally, but she’s so professional and so focused herself, you know. I oftentimes would look over and be like, “Yeah, okay, right, this is what we’re doing. This is what we’re doing.” But we had such fun together and we had such a great time. We spent a lot of time together, just between stunt training and then obviously filming the movie. So I think our dynamic off-screen probably helped a lot of our chemistry on-screen as well.”
On the importance of NASA, “Yeah. For me, I think NASA also sort of represents a very specific hope, you know, and it sort of ties in with the movie in a sort of symbolic way.”
George Clooney – Frank Walker
You know, listen. First and foremost, I think it is a really bold thing for Disney to be willing to do a film that isn’t a sequel and isn’t a comic book, to really invest in a summer film of this sort of ilk. The fun part of it, to me, was when you read the screenplay, although I have to say, just so we’re clear, when Damon and Brad showed up at my house, they said, “We’ve got a part that we’ve written for you.” And then I opened up the description of the character and it’s a 55-year-old has-been, and I’m kind of going, “Hang on a minute, which part am I reading for?”
On being an Optimist, “I happen to believe in it, and so I loved the theme or the idea that, you know, there’s still so much that we can all do to make things better. And I liked it. I thought it was great. And I’ve always been an optimist. I’ve been a realist, but I’ve been an optimist about it. And I really related to the film because I thought, you know, Brad and Damon want to tell a story that’s an entertainment, because first and foremost, it has to be an entertainment. But it is hopeful, and I’ve always felt that way myself.”
Raffy Cassidy – Athena
Raffy on her relationship in the film between her and Brit, “I think the relationship between Casey and Athena is quite friendly, because Athena just wants to get Casey and Frank together, to try and save the world.”
