ISLAMABAD, JUNE 25 (ONLINE): From Moon to Source Code, and Warcraft to Mute, Duncan Jones has long since proven himself a leading light as both an intelligent sci-fi filmmaker and a director who knows a thing or two about bringing a unique artistic sensibility to ambitious, large-scale projects. And his latest, a long-gestating animated adaptation of 2000AD’s Rogue Trooper sci-fi comic book series, looks set to prove the apotheosis of Jones’ creative journey to date. Built using Epic Games’ cutting edge Unreal Engine 5, Rogue Trooper sees Aneurin Barnard (Doctor Who) star as a lone survivor super soldier on a mission for vengeance — accompanied, naturally, by a sentient gun, backpack, and helmet imbued with his dead fellow squaddies’ personalities. If it sounds wild on paper, then you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Just check out our exclusive first-look images from the movie below;
Lost soldiers traversing barren, toxic wastelands? Check. A great big hulking tank-of-the-future imposing itself on Rogue Trooper’s Nu Earth setting? Check. A pair of Jemaine Clement and Matt Berry voiced looting baddies called Mr Brass and Mr Bland that delicately straddle the brow of the hill overlooking uncanny valley? Check. Yeah, we’re thinking Jones is back — and not a moment too soon. For those unfamiliar with Dave Gibbons and Gerry Finley-Day’s classic British comics, Rogue Trooper is set on the aforementioned Nu Earth, where war rages between the fascistic Norts and the democratic Southers. Barnard then plays Rogue, a Genetic Infantryman (GI, reddit?) engineered for battle in the planet’s poisonous atmosphere who, per the movie’s synopsis, “finds himself the sole survivor of an invasion force.” Turns out his unit have been sold out by a traitor, which is where the sentient combat kit and vengeance quest all come in. It’s heady, surreal, eye-poppingly creative stuff — aka the perfect source material for a new Jones joint.
Follow the PNI Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
