Though “Hollywood” is still trying to make it start earlier and earlier each year, May is the traditional beginning of the Summer Movie Season. This year gets started in a big way with Avengers: Age of Ultron (plus a new Star Wars trailer), but refreshingly the month looks to offer a rather eclectic mix of blockbuster films. Mad Max: Fury Road looks to be an insane R-rated thrill ride, Pitch Perfect 2 promises to be a laugh riot, and then there’s something that’s all too rare in this climate: an original sci-fi film.
Tomorrowland is directed by Brad Bird and co-written by Bird and Damon Lindelof, and offers a unique take on the sci-fi genre by turning a Disney attraction into a reality in a unique way. A new featurette for the film finds Bird, Lindelof, and star George Clooney discussing the secrets behind the movie while also touting its originality.
And if that wasn’t enough, Disney is celebrating the release of Tomorrowland at its Disney Parks by offering fans a peek behind the scenes of the film. Guests who attend Disneyland or Walt Disney World beginning April 17th will be treated to a 12-minute sneak peek of the film, as well as an exhibit that features props, concept art, and photos from the set, in addition to exclusive photos from the Disney Archives. The exhibit will run for a limited time only.
Check out the new featurette below, followed by the full press release regarding the exhibit. The film also stars Britt Robertson and Hugh Laurie and opens in theaters on May 22nd.
Here's the press release:
Burbank, Calif. (April 10, 2015) –Walt Disney Studios announced today an unprecedented collaboration between the Studio, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort to offer park guests a 12-minute sneak peek of Disney’s upcoming thrilling, mystery-adventure film, “Tomorrowland,” opening in U.S. theaters on May 22. Guests will also enjoy an impressive exhibit that features the making of the movie with props, concept artwork and photos from the filming of the movie plus exclusive images from the Disney Archives. The sneak peek and exhibit will open April 17 in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park and on April 18 in Future World at Epcot and will be available to the public for a limited time.
The must-see event marks the first time that a sneak peek has been offered at Epcot in Walt Disney World and the first time Walt Disney Studios has teamed up with both parks to showcase an upcoming Disney film with footage and an in-depth look at the making of the film. Sure to spark the imagination and curiosity of all, the special exhibit details the process of bringing director Brad Bird’s vision to life and will show how filmmakers created the world of Tomorrowland, along with archival images of iconic Disneyland attractions featured in the movie.
In the movie, the premise that the futuristic city of Tomorrowland could actually exist pays homage to Walt Disney’s vision for both Tomorrowland at Disneyland Resort and Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort where ever-evolving technologies are showcased along with ideas to make the world a better place for all.
Commenting on the exclusive “Tomorrowland” sneak peek event, Brad Bird, the film’s two-time Oscar® winning director, says, “We are excited that park guests will be the first to get an extended look at ‘Tomorrowland’ in the part of Disneyland that inspired the film. Tomorrowland is the one section of the park that Walt Disney himself designed to be tied inexorably to constant change. After all, the future is always in motion, continually shifting as humankind’s choices of the present remake the world ahead of us. ‘Tomorrowland’ is a state of mind. My hope is that the exhibit will convey some of the magic that went into bringing this land… and this movie, to life.”
“Tomorrowland,” a riveting mystery adventure starring Academy Award® winner George Clooney, tells the story of former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, who are bound by a shared destiny and embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland.” What they must do there changes the world—and them—forever.
Featuring a screenplay by “Lost” writer and co-creator Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird, from a story by Lindelof & Bird & Jeff Jensen, “Tomorrowland” promises to take audiences on a thrill ride of nonstop adventures through new dimensions that have only been dreamed of.
The film also stars Hugh Laurie as brilliant scientist David Nix, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key and Thomas Robinson
“Tomorrowland” is produced by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird and Jeffrey Chernov and directed by Brad Bird, with John Walker, Bernard Bellew, Jeff Jensen and Brigham Taylor serving as executive producers.