First Photo of Milla Jovovich and Tony Jaa in Action in MONSTER HUNTER and an Official Synopsis
This is our first official photo from director Paul W.S. Anderson’s film adaptation of the popular Capcom video game franchise Monster Hunter.
The photo features Milla Jovovich in the role of Natalie Artemis, an original character that was created for the movie. She has “a pair of unidentified Dual Blades on her back, a carving knife on her thigh, and a Slinger on her left arm.”
We also get to see Tony Jaa looking completely badass as the Hunter. He wields “a Giant Jawblade, a type of Great Sword, as well as a Great Hunter’s Bow. As you can tell from his costume, Hunter's look is obviously patterned after the Field Team Leader from Monster Hunter World.”
The studios has also released the following official story description:
Behind our world, there is another: a world of dangerous and powerful monsters that rule their domain with deadly ferocity. When Lt. Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her loyal soldiers are transported from our world to the new world, the unflappable lieutenant receives the shock of her life. In her desperate battle for survival against enormous enemies with incredible powers and unstoppable, revolting attacks, Artemis will team up with a mysterious man who has found a way to fight back.
The film is currently shooting in South Africa, and IGN had a chance to talk to Anderson about the film saying, "The beauty of the costumes and the landscapes from the Monster Hunter game really kind of came out in that image."
Even though Jovovich’s character is a new, original character, the costume is inspired by what is in the game. “Artemis’ chest piece, for example, is directly inspired by the Odogaron chest piece in Monster Hunter World.”
Anderson also mentions that Artemis' costume “is mismatched as a nod to a character that a player might customize from different sets, ‘She is the game player, in a way, she is the audience’s avatar, their way into the world.’”
It’s also revealed that the movie will include multiple topographical locations. He explained some of the other settings that we’ll see:
"We’re going into a much more rocky landscapes as well, we’re getting out of the desert and going much more rocky. There’s a chunk of the movie that’s actually set underground as well, in terrifying caves. There’s a more lush part of the movie, which kind of reflects the kind of lush, more jungle-y look of the Monster Hunter world. And then the climax of the movie takes place around a piece of the Ancient Civilization that’s, it’s kind of referenced many times in the Monster Hunter games."
Anderson went on to say:
"The idea that there was this Ancient Civilization that existed in the deep parts, and which, when you’re playing the games, you sometimes kind of stumble upon the ruins of this civilization, an advanced civilization that brought about its own destruction. And one of those sets of ruins provides a big backdrop for the final act of the film. So it’s a pretty varied landscape. I mean, you’re not gonna get as many landscapes as you would if you spent fifty hours playing Monster Hunter World, but I think for a two-hour movie, you’re going to really go on an amazing journey with amazing visuals."
This movie actually sounds like it could turn out to be a lot of fun! I hope it is! I’m not really a big fan of the films that Anderson has made, but that doesn’t mean this one won’t turn out to be entertaining.
Do you like what you see in this first photo from Monster Hunter?