ELLE FANNING AND DIMITRIUS SCHUSTER-KOLOAMATANGI SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES ON FILMING

Tomorrow, Thursday, November 6th, the new Predator film hits theaters, the first in the franchise to premiere on the big screen since 2018

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Tomorrow, the popular saga PREDATOR officially expands with PREDATOR: WILDLANDSthe new film that hits theaters with an unprecedented and charismatic duo formed by Elle Fanning (Thia/Tessa) and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi (Dek).

The new film marks Dan Trachtenberg’s return to directing after the success of THE PREDATOR: THE HUNT (available on Disney+) and focuses on the unexpected alliance between two characters who embark on a dangerous journey in search of a worthy opponent.

In the final stretch for the premiere, Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi share their memories, stories and reflections on their characters and the experience of filming PREDATOR: WILDLANDS.

CONTAGED HAIR ENTHUSIASM BY DAN TRACHTENBERG

When the stars of the new film found out they would be part of the franchise PREDATORwere completely excited, as they were both fans of the saga and had especially enjoyed Trachtenberg’s work on THE PREDATOR: THE HUNT.

The project became even more special when they spoke with the director, who shared their enthusiasm for the universe of PREDATOR.

Fanning conta:

“He sent me the script, I read it and we had a video call where he showed me some incredible illustrations of the world and explained his vision for the story. Hearing him talk about it and seeing his passion was very moving.”.

Schuster-Koloamatangi adds:

“Just talk to him to realize that he is a big fan of the franchise, the character and the universe of PREDATOR as a whole. Having someone so passionate about this world, contributing brilliant new ideas to such an iconic franchise, is like having the secret sauce. You can feel that love; it overflows”.

The director’s passion was automatically reflected on set, where the actors enjoyed every day of filming in collaboration with Trachtenberg. Fanning says: “We were both in the trenches every day, literally and figuratively. It was blood, sweat and tears from both of them, in the best sense possible. Dan is wonderful with actors. He loves the scenes, he loves the dialogue. He made every moment of the experience feel as authentic as possible.”.

Schuster-Koloamatangi, in turn, highlights the director’s clarity of vision, as well as his positive energy. “He really made us feel like we were part of something special, and every day we looked forward to going to work.”it says.

PERFORMANCE CHALLENGES LIKE NEVER FACED BEFORE

In the film, Fanning plays a high-tech, two-part, legless robot cavy in a nest on Genna, a dangerous planet where anything can kill her. The actress spent much of the filming tied to a harness, with her legs suspended by cables so they didn’t touch the ground.

Fanning knee:

“The force required to stay attached to the cables is considerable. Dimitrius and I were stuck back to back the entire time, flying through the air while we were attached. We had to calculate weight and body distribution and learn the wheelbarrow method, where I sat in a wheelbarrow and Dimitrius pulled me. This was later removed with visual effects, but he had to carry me up hills and do all sorts of things.”.

In the scenes on land, the production dug trenches for her to sit in. She also had to learn to move fluidly, like a state-of-the-art robot.

To bring Dek the Predator to life, Schuster-Koloamatangi had to prepare in several ways. First, he received training to master Yautja, a language created specifically for the film.

The actor explains:

“At first it was difficult because I needed to use different muscles in my throat, but it helped me completely transform into Dek. When speaking the language, I had to change my entire body posture to be able to pronounce the words.”

On the other hand, Schuster-Koloamatangi underwent a radical physical transformation: he wore contact lenses, prosthetic arms and legs, separated hands and feet and a helmet with Dek’s characteristic braids.

“I was carrying an extra 15 pounds, but that ended up being an advantage because Yautja are naturally heavier than humans. My natural movements are quick and energetic, so it was nice to have the extra weight from all that costume.”, guarantees the actor.

A SPECIAL CONNECTION

For both Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi, the experience of filming PREDATOR: WILDLANDS was strongly marked by collaborative work. The connection between the main characters shines through on screen and is a direct result of the bond forged by the actors on set. Acting “back to back” for long hours and sharing physically demanding scenes brought the artists even closer together.

Schuster-Koloamatangi says:

“It was long, difficult days, in challenging locations, and I think when you’re in that kind of situation, it’s all or nothing. Some people crack under the pressure, but others come together and overcome the challenges. Elle is one of those last, and that made it easier for us to work together and exchange ideas.”

Fanning, in turn, has nothing but praise for his co-star, highlighting his contagious energy and generosity:

“I was really happy to have him on set because he was the only other actor. We did most of our scenes together, usually in one take… with her Predator braids hitting me every time! I felt his presence in every scene. He is an incredible person.”

PREDATOR: WILDLANDS premieres exclusively in theaters on November 6th in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, RealD (3D), Cinemark XD, 4DX, ScreenX and on premium screens worldwide.