Travel was provided

Actors often get all the credit for a successful movie. We forget that there are so many people behind the movies that we love. The Legend of Tarzan was a surprise to me. It had way more depth and intensity than I ever expected. I couldn’t help but wonder what the process of bringing Tarzan back to the big screen was. I mean, we’ve heard the story 1000 times, but we’ve never heard it like this before! A group of bloggers and I were honored to chat with the actors who play Tarzan and Jane and to Director, David Yates.

If you remember the name, but can’t quite place it, David Yates was the Director is the last four Harry Potter movies. In other words, he’s kinda a big deal. I had the pleasure of speaking to this imaginative director about his visions for The Legend of Tarzan. After watching the ferocity play out on the big screen, I expected David Yates to be just as wild. But what walked in, was a very soft-spoken, polite man that was ready to chat about how he felt about a modern version of Tarzan.

Mr. David Yates: I was reading lots and lots of scripts after Harry Potter. And Tarzan came across my desk. And I thought, “I know this character. I know this world.” When I was a kid growing up in the north of England, I saw those old Johnny Weissmuller films on the telly all the time. And so, I opened the script.. And it was immediately obvious it wasn’t going to be difficult at all because this wasn’t, “Me Tarzan, you Jane.”

It was about human being who had changed. He’d gone civilization. He’d gone to London. He’d become an English lord. He was living in a big stately home. And he sort of lost touch with his roots in Africa.

And then as I got into it more and more, what I really loved about it, I was reading lots of scripts. But, none of them had a beating heart like this one. None of them felt exciting in a kind of romantic way.

And even though it was an old character, it felt very fresh to me.

So, immediately, I didn’t think it was going to be very difficult for an audience to go, “Well, I thought I knew it, but I don’t know this character.”

And there was the politics. It was the fun and the comedy. It was the romance. It was the big epic sweeping landscapes. It was all of those things that just felt–I haven’t seen this for a long time. You know, so, that made it feel fresh and different to me.

So, I fell in love with that as soon as I read it really.

David Yates continues to speak about the true heart of the film – Tarzan and Jane, “It was about two human beings that ultimately save each other”. He was incredibly moved that the heart of the film was about a mutual, unconstrained love. He continues, “Jane saves Tarzan at the beginning of the movie. And by the second half of the movie is really about him trying to save her. But, without each other, they’re incomplete. You know, he’s kind of strong and connected to the environment and loves animals and has these extraordinary abilities. But, without her, he can’t really survive.”

The love story in The Legend of Tarzan seems so effortless and natural. That’s what makes this movie so easy to fall in love with. It’s an action-packed love story that makes you feel something. For the first time ever, audiences feel like they are truly connected to Tarzan and Jane. It’s a fantastical story that has been introduced to the real world – not without it’s challenges, of course.

David Yates: So, for me, it was about that relationship and making that resonate and feel moving and timeless, just finding chemistry between two actors that you really believe and that you want to stay with basically. So, getting Alex and Margot was a big piece of the puzzle, to bring those two together.

The other challenge in making a big movie like this is technically, what you’re looking at is shooting in actual jungles – it’s a nightmare basically.

We went to Gabon. I went with my crew to Gabon. And what you do is you go into the jungle for half an hour. And my lovely crew who are all these delicate Brits, we go in. And when we come out the other side, we’re covered with sort of stuff, and things have dropped on us, and we’re all exhausted after half an hour.

So, you realize that, to sort of bring this story to the screen requires a different approach. And so, it involved recreating some of this world in the way we created Harry Potter.

You know, we build some of it. And that was the biggest challenge, how you realize it and make it feel real.

Romantic but real is the key I think!

Q. Can you talk about a little bit casting Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz as the sidekick and the villain because they’re the perfect counterparts to Margot and Alexander?

I had to bring Sam into this movie because it was needed. Tarzan’s got a history which is sort of checkered with a bit of–you know, a bit of dodgy politics, racism. And what was appealing about this story is it sort of–it jettisoned all that nonsense. All that belongs in the past. And this story was about very present-world values.

And I just thought it was just such a delicious thing to bring Sam Jackson into a Tarzan movie because he’s cool. For me and for a lot of audiences around the world, Sam is a proper iconic actor of immense standing and skill. You know, there aren’t many of them actually.

Actually, you could probably count them on one hand. And he is one of them. And he brings dignity, grace, nobility, humor. He’s got everything, you know? So, it was a no-brainer. If you’re going to remake Tarzan, bring someone as cool and as iconic as Sam into that mix.

And it completely changes the sort of perception of what the movie is. Plus, the character Sam plays, George Washington Williams, is a real human being, existed.

Director, David Yates goes on to explain how the character that Samuel L. Jackson plays te role of an actually human being. So, in the movie, her writes a letter that he reads aloud calling out King Leopold. “Those words are from a letter that George Washington Williams actually wrote to King Leopold to reveal what he was doing in the Congo. And if you’re going to get an actor to play that character, you want someone who’s as smart, as resourceful, as witty, and as subversive as Sam can be.”

Mr. Yates went on to explain how the funny cat and mouse game that he played with Christoph Waltz was. Being an actor with incredibly wit and talent, Waltz is very particular with the roles that he takes on. His first impression when approached for the role as the villian, Captain Rom wasn’t a good one. Understandably he felt as if Tarzan was an old story that everyone already knows… until he read the script.

David Yates explains Christoph’s response to reading the script, “And then he read the script, and he felt really encouraged and excited about coming onboard. And actually, Christoph’s character in the original script started out as this machismo sort of super cool soldier. He was a real physical match for Tarzan. He was like this sword-wielding, pistol-shooting sort of uber general. So, in that big opening scene, he sort of takes down about 20 of the Mbolongo warriors. And then we sent it to Christoph. And quite rightly, he said, ‘David, this isn’t me. I’m not sure I can do that.’ And he said, ‘Plus, it’s not that interesting'”.

And so, they worked more on developing a character that was more interesting, more menacing because we all know that Christoph Waltz plays menacing very well. He explained how Christoph was excited about this character and was quite hand on in the developing process.

Most actors have an opinion about the role they’re playing. But, he brings a lot to the table. And he doesn’t just look at their character, his character. He’ll look at the scene. And then he’ll look at the scene within the sequence. And then he’ll look at the sequence within the movie.

And he’ll go, “My character wouldn’t necessarily do that. You don’t need that, David. Why don’t you cut it? Why don’t you lose that because I think it spoils that moment later with Jane and Tarzan?”

So, he really generous–actually, we were blessed in that way with both Alex, Margot, Sam, you know, all of them. They all thought beyond their role. They were partners really in a way and incredibly helpful as we sort of navigated our way through the story.

David Yates goes on to explain how he chose Alexander Skarsgård and Margot Robbie for the roles as Tarzan and Jane. Sometimes the selection process is as simple as liking an actor’s body. I know it sounds funny, but it’s important in a movie like this.

David Yates: But, for me, if you’re swinging through the jungle, you need really long arms, really long legs. You need to have dexterity. And you need to be able to move in a beautiful way. So, oddly, his verticality for me was crucial.

As for Margot Robbie – David Yates wasn’t familiar with her yet. The studio actually introduced them. They were raving about her so much that he thought she might be a little too glamorous for the role of Jane. I mean, Jane has to be a woman that’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. Not just any woman would love a wild man like Tarzan. He was pleasantly surprised when he first met her.

And it must be the Australian in her, but she was a real earthy tomboy. She was really regular, down to earth. She was like a boy in a way–in a good way. She was just very unpretentious. And I thought, “Well, if we’re going to have a Jane, let’s have an unpretentious Jane who’s earthy and gets on with it, knows her own mind, but she’s beautiful as well.”  As soon as I met her, I thought, “The studio has got this right. I really like here. I think she’d be great.”

Purchase your tickets to The Legend of Tarzan on Fandango.

I absolutely loved hearing all about the casting of these stellar actors. David Yates was truly a pleasure to interview. He’s a very skilled director and his meek personality makes him that much more charming.

In Theaters July 1, 2016

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures comes the action adventure “The Legend of Tarzan,” starring Alexander Skarsgård (HBO’s “True Blood”) as the legendary character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The film also stars Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson (“Pulp Fiction,” the “Captain America” films), Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou (“Blood Diamond,” “Gladiator”), Oscar nominee John Hurt (“The Elephant Man,” the “Harry Potter” films), with Oscar winner Jim Broadbent (“Iris”), and two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds,” “Django Unchained”).

It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.

David Yates (the final four “Harry Potter” films, upcoming “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) directed “The Legend of Tarzan” from a screenplay by Adam Cozad and Craig Brewer, story by Brewer and Cozad based on the Tarzan stories created by Burroughs. Legendary producer Jerry Weintraub (“Behind the Candelabra,” the “Ocean’s” trilogy) produced the film, together with David Barron (the “Harry Potter” films, “Cinderella”), Alan Riche (“Southpaw”) and Tony Ludwig (“Starsky & Hutch”). Susan Ekins, Nikolas Korda, Keith Goldberg, David Yates, Mike Richardson and Bruce Berman served as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team included director of photography Henry Braham (“The Golden Compass”), Oscar-winning production designer Stuart Craig (“Dangerous Liaisons,” “The English Patient,” the “Harry Potter” films), editor Mark Day (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Parts 1 & 2”), and Oscar-nominated costume designer Ruth Myers (“Emma,” “Unknown”).

“The Legend of Tarzan” was shot at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, as well as on location around the UK.

A Jerry Weintraub production, “The Legend of Tarzan” is slated for release on July 1, 2016. The film will be distributed in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

Connect with The Legend of Tarzan

Visit the official website

Like on Facebook

Follow @LegendOfTarzan on Twitter and Instagram

#LegendOfTarzan

Last weekend, I flew out to Los Angeles to attend a press junket for The Legend of Tarzan. During this event, I had the pleasure of taking part in a few fun activities. First, we attended an advanced screening of The Legend of Tarzan. The movie completely blew me away with the beautiful Tarzan and Jane love story. Then, the next morning I got to sit down with the Alexander Skarsgård and Margot Robbie, better known as Tarzan and Jane. There’s no question as to why these two were chosen to accompany one another as Tarzan and Jane – their connection was undeniable.

These two walked into the room with huge smiles on their faces. Alexander, being the only man in a room of 12 ladies, expressed that he felt a bit intimidated. Margot, however, was incredibly giddy. She enthusiastically exclaimed, “This is going to be fun,” as her flawless face lit up with joy. They were both ready to chat about how their approach to a classic movie that everyone already loves so deeply.

Alexander Skarsgård: It’s because he’s such an iconic character and–or both Tarzan and Jane are iconic characters, and it’s such a well-known story that I think it’s been told over 100 times on film and, obviously, all the novels. And so, I was really excited when I heard that Warner Brothers was planning on making the Tarzan movie because I was a fan growing up. But, it also, obviously, made me think, well, what’s the approach? How is it going to be different, you know, because you can’t just, remake a movie that’s been made 100 times?

I just think Adam Cozad, who wrote it, came up with such a brilliant take on it. I love the idea that it opens…..it’s a surprising introduction to these characters because you kind of expect the loincloth, the, “Me Tarzan, you Jane.” And instead, it’s this very sophisticated couple in Victorian London. I thought it was really interesting and very smart.

And the trajectory of the story is the opposite of the old novels or the old movies. It’s not, you know, the wild man, finding his way into civilization. It’s someone who’s already acclimated to that and then is forced to go back and kind of reconnect with his roots and with his inner animal in a way, which I thought was quite interesting to play.

It was bound to happen. In fact, I am shocked that the question wasn’t asked sooner. We were a room full of “curious” ladies, so the next ever-so-innocent question for Mr. Skarsgård was going to slip out sooner or later.

Q. How did you prepare for such a physical role?

Mr. Alexander Skarsgard: For phase one, I wanted to put on some weight. I was out here in L.A. wrapping up True Blood. And so, for the first three months,  I ate a lot and I lifted weights. The idea wasn’t just to get big. I wanted to put on some weight, but also, it was important that, in the movie, he doesn’t look like a bodybuilder.

It was important that when he returns to the jungle and he’s back in his natural habitat, you have to feel that he is born and raised there, that it’s natural. And I had to work on agility and be nimble and flexible.

Once we got to London about six or seven weeks before starting the movie, they cut down the portions a lot to very small meals. And it was more cardio-based workout. And we got to work with–Wayne McGregor… an incredible choreographer…on movement stuff.

And that was really fun. So, it was much more than just eating chicken breast and lifting weights because, again, I didn’t want to get too big because….animals don’t have muscles that don’t serve a purpose because it’s stupid in the wild because that means they need energy. And that means you have to hunt more. And so, it’s all about efficiency in Mother Nature, obviously. So, the idea behind it was everything has to be there for a reason.

The Legend of Tarzan portrays Jane as a whip-smart, feisty, and witty woman. She’s not just the wife of a powerful man. She’s a woman that is tough enough to handle herself in every situation. As women, we can definitely relate to relying on our men, but being able to handle ourselves. Margot Robbie describes how she developed the character and what she loved about being, Jane.

Ms. Margot Robbie: ….David Yates, the Director, and I…… our initial conversations were very much on, like, okay, how do we make this Jane relatable to a contemporary audience? How do we make her feel a bit more real and someone I can connect to because I’m not going to sit there and just be like, “He’ll come for me. It’ll be great.” It just seems stupid!

If she’s really that intelligent, she’d be problem solving the whole time. So, even in scenes where the focus isn’t meant to be on her and there’s other things happening, in the background of the shot, can I always be actively trying to escape? Even if it’s just like niggling at the guards or trying to kick someone –and Dave was like, “Oh, this would be hilarious if you’re always kicking–like, if it’s towards the end of the movie and kind of like scared to get near because you’re just always lashing out at them, that would be amazing.”

And yes, we spoke a lot about making her very independent and very capable. I think both of them are very capable when they’re apart, which we’re apart for a lot of the movie. But, we also spent a lot of time talking about how to make them also very dependent on each other because, at the heart of it, to me, it’s very much a love story. And if you don’t invest in that, then you don’t really invest in the outcome of the movie. And then you kind of lose your audience a bit.

So, it’s important to focus on that. And to focus on that, it makes sense that they both need something from each other, where Tarzan’s physically strong, she’s emotionally strong. Where she needs that from him where he–you know, they both need each other, and I don’t think being really in love with your husband makes you a weaker female character. If anything, I think it makes her seem stronger.

So, I didn’t want to downplay the love aspect, but also did want to make sure that she was very capable and defiant and intelligent.

Both Margo and Alex explain how the entire filming process was very collaborative. “They were no egos,” Skarsgård explains as he talks about how welcoming Director, David Yates was to input. Overall, everything was already written for them. Margot explains, “it was all pretty much there on the page. It’s a really good script. They’re fully-formed characters. And the relationships, everything was really evident on the page.”

Q. Can you talk a little bit about what the most challenging parts of your roles are, especially because I know a lot of times, you acting against the green screen and not with real animals?

Ms. Margot Robbie: Yes. That was a strange one. Alex had to interact more with invisible animals than I did. And I got to kind of like stand back and giggle to myself as he nuzzled with a stunt guy pretending to be a lion. This was like the most ridiculous thing I’d ever seen.

Alexander gave Margot the funniest look as shs was explaining this. When she mentioned how she’d giggle to herself, he looked at her like “Wait, I didn’t know any of this.” Then, he explains himself.

Mr. Alexander Skarsgard: So, that was a very interesting day. There’s a lion scene where I snuggle a lion because it was the cub I grew up…. well, that lion is a guy. His name’s Ace, is like 25-year-old gangster from South London, super cool guy, he shows up in a gray pajamas on set. And we shake hands.

I’m like, “Oh, nice to meet you.” He’s like, “What’s up, mate? How you doing?”

And then they’d call action. We’d go down on all fours, and we’d just start rubbing with Sam [Samuel L. Jackson] and Margot in the background like, “He’s known her since she was a cub.”

Ms. Margot Robbie: Tried to live with the lions without, like, absolutely dying with laughter. So, funny.

Unfortunately, that was a wrap! We shook hands, took a group photo, and these lovelies actually took the time to takes selfies with each one of us! How much fun is that?

See it in Theaters July 1, 2016

Purchase your tickets to The Legend of Tarzan on Fandango.

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures comes the action adventure “The Legend of Tarzan,” starring Alexander Skarsgård (HBO’s “True Blood”) as the legendary character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The film also stars Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson (“Pulp Fiction,” the “Captain America” films), Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou (“Blood Diamond,” “Gladiator”), Oscar nominee John Hurt (“The Elephant Man,” the “Harry Potter” films), with Oscar winner Jim Broadbent (“Iris”), and two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds,” “Django Unchained”).

It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.

Directed By: David Yates / Rated: PG-13

• Visit the Official Site
• Like ‘The Legend of Tarzan’ on Facebook
• Follow on Twitter and Instagram

Travel consideration provided by Warner Bros. Pictures.

We all know the famous ” Me, Tarzan. You, Jane” story. Tarzan and Jane won audiences over many years ago. We were captivated by the Tarzan and Jane romance. Some even deemed it as the greatest love story of all time. If you were hypnotized by the Tarzan and Jane romance before, then you’re going to be infatuated with the Legend of Tarzan love story. As I watched the film, I found myself redefining the “prince charming” that every other “happily ever after” drew for me. The Legend of Tarzan isn’t just a story about a man raised in the jungle – it’s is a story about family, brotherhood, and about endless love.

When the movie begins, we are immediately introduced to Tarzan and Jane. But it’s not the Tarzan and Jane that we are familiar with. It’s the Tarzan and Jane out of the jungle. I know, I know. Tarzan in the real world – boring! But it’s not boring at all. In fact, being introduced to Tarzan as a real man in the real world is a story that Tarzan fans needed. We’ve always been familiar with the chest pounding, victory crying Tarzan. But haven’t you always wondered, what happens next? Well, The Legend of Tarzan gives us an incredible look at Tarzan and Jane after the jungle.

In The Legend of Tarzan, you will meet a man, in clothes, that is very much in love with his wife, Jane. It’s immediately apparent that Tarzan and Jane have an unbreakable bond. You don’t have to be a fan of the original Tarzan to see the love flowing between these two. It’s apparent in the way that their eyes light up when they look at each other and it’s clear in their unspoken faith in one another. It’s the love story in The Legend of Tarzan that really won me over!

Without giving away too much, I will just say that Tarzan has to head back into the jungle to take care of a very important task. Jane, of course, refuses to let him go without her. You have to remember that the jungle was like Jane’s second home. The thought of going back overjoyed her! So, being the loving husband that he is, Tarzan agreed. She only has to promise that she will stay in a safe area. Unfortunately, the jungle isn’t always safe and definitely not always honest.

The Legend of Tarzan takes audiences on a wild, intense, and action-packed adventure through the depths of the jungle. You will learn the power of brotherhood, the importance of family, and you will see how far one jungle-grown man will go for the one he loves. The Legend of Tarzan is the true definition of an Action Adventure film. You will be on the edge of your seat, gripping your armrests, and wondering what is coming next. Every scene is powerful.

The actors in The Legend of Tarzan gives performances that will haunt you, touch your soul, tickle your funny bone, and melt your heart. You can expect a well-balanced mixture of comedy, action, adventure, and romance. It’s definitely a must-see, but leave the kids at home! This movie is too intense for children, but would be a great date night movie!

Purchase your tickets to The Legend of Tarzan on Fandango.

See it in Theaters July 1, 2016

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures comes the action adventure “The Legend of Tarzan,” starring Alexander Skarsgård (HBO’s “True Blood”) as the legendary character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The film also stars Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson (“Pulp Fiction,” the “Captain America” films), Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou (“Blood Diamond,” “Gladiator”), Oscar nominee John Hurt (“The Elephant Man,” the “Harry Potter” films), with Oscar winner Jim Broadbent (“Iris”), and two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds,” “Django Unchained”).

It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.

Directed By: David Yates / Rated: PG-13

• Visit the Official Site
• Like ‘The Legend of Tarzan’ on Facebook
• Follow on Twitter and Instagram