He’s battled zombies, divorced Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story, led the Gucci fashion house with Lady Gaga, declared himself Supreme Leader of the First Order and killed Han Solo (and we still might be a little sore about that last one). Since his breakout role in 2012’s comedy-drama series Girls, the former US Marine turned multiple Academy Award nominee Adam Driver has quickly become one of the most sought-after actors working today. Now, Driver’s latest role will see him facing one of the biggest challenges of his critically acclaimed career – literally.
And by big, we mean hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex BIG.
That’s big with teeth. Lots of teeth.
That’s right, Supa-Fans, Sony Pictures’ latest sci-fi thriller 65 is set to pit the fan favourite Star Wars actor against our planet’s deadliest prehistoric super-predators. Written and directed by emerging filmmaking duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, 65 follows the story of Driver’s Mills, the unfortunate pilot of an interstellar transport ship. When a tragic accident kills every passenger onboard, save a young girl named Koa (played by Avengers: Infinity War’s Ariana Greenblatt), Mills is forced to crash-land on a mysterious planet. What Mills and Koa don’t know, however, is that planet is Earth. Or rather, Earth from 65 million years ago.
Stranded on a primeval world, filled with big toothy critters all looking to turn them into a delicious pre-dinner snack, Mills and Koa can only look to their wits to help them survive. And lasers. Did we mention there’s lasers too? Dinosaurs and lasers, seriously what else could fans of high-impact, high-octane sci-fi ever ask for?
If this sort of action-packed premise seems guaranteed to get your heart pumping, it’s probably because the people responsible are no strangers to the good old creature feature. Not only are 65’s writers and directors the same minds responsible for creating 2018’s hit film A Quiet Place, but they’re also set to deliver their own spin on one of Stephen King’s classic stories as screenwriters on the upcoming film adaptation of The Boogeyman.
“The 12-year-olds in us always wanted to write a dinosaur film,” Beck explains the origins of their latest film. Best friends since the sixth grade, the up-and-coming duo are excited about exploring the possibilities of working within genre films. “Horror, suspense, action, adventure – that’s the sweet spot for us. And what we love even more is to combine genre with a heartbeat – characters you really love.”
Helping lend his considerable knowledge and experience to the project is none other than producer Sam Raimi. Best known as the director behind the Evil Dead franchise, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man films, and, most recently, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Raimi is also joined by South Park producer Deborah Liebling, and Zainab Aziz (who heads up Raimi Productions).
While the promise of non-stop dinosaur action would be enough to whet the appetite of even the most discerning sci-fi fan, Raimi suggests that the bond forged between Driver’s character and that of his young charge is what really sits at the heart of the film.
“What captivated me the most about 65 is the core of the film,” Raimi explains. “And that is the father-daughter type relationship between Mills and Koa… Together, the pair protect and fight for each other. Even though Mills initially rescues Koa, it’s really Koa that saves him.”
As for the young actress responsible for such a daunting role, audiences might recognise Ariana Greenblatt as the young Gamora that Thanos adopted during a flashback sequence in Avengers: Infinity War. Named as “one to watch” by The Hollywood Reporter, the rising star is also set to star opposite Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the upcoming Barbie movie. 65, however, represents her biggest role yet, a prospect made all the more unnerving as the film is only a two-hander requiring her to work opposite one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors.
“I was really nervous coming into this project,” Greenblatt admits. “I felt a lot of pressure because [Adam Driver is] incredible – and it was just the two of us.”
Of course, sharing the screen with Driver was not the only challenge Greenblatt would have to face during production on 65. With all the non-stop action, the young star would get some hands-on experience in attempting her own stunts.
“I really loved doing my own stunts!” the actress exclaims. “The gimble was awesome, it was like a carnival ride.”
There are 65 million good reasons why we’re totally psyched to see Adam Driver and Ariana Greenblatt battle their way across prehistoric Earth, and audiences will get a chance to see the film for themselves when it hits Australian cinemas on Thursday, 9 March.
Meanwhile, Supa-Fans can also get a chance to score one of 20 in-season double passes to see the film via our latest competition. Entries close at 5:00pm AEST on Friday, 3 March, so you better get in quick smart, or you risk being left for dino-bait.
65 is exclusive to cinemas from March 9