We have seen plenty of post-apocalyptic landscapes on the big screen over the years. From the zombie-filled worlds of the late George A. Romero to the horse-powered sand dunes created by George Miller, there's something for every taste. However, some fans are looking for something fresh and exciting, and the first trailer for Mortal Engines seems to promise that in spades. Check out the action-packed preview for the long-awaited adaptation of Philip Reeve's book series to see the bizarre tale for yourself.
Right off the bat, it's clear that we have never really seen anything quite like the action promised in this Mortal Engines preview. The idea of moving cities swallowing one another in a post-apocalyptic landscape is a fascinating concept, and while there's undoubtedly some DNA of other films like Mad Max: Fury Road on display, the style of the swashbuckling action is genuinely unlike anything offered up by other major franchises. Given the presence of Lord of the Rings mastermind Peter Jackson behind the scenes, this might be one of the burgeoning epic properties to watch over the next year.
Mortal Engines takes place thousands of years in the future in a dystopian world in which a nuclear war destroyed society as we know it. Adapting to the seismic shift, humanity persists by creating a series of giant, moving cities that hunt smaller towns and hamlets across the plains of the Earth. In the story of Mortal Engines, we catch up with a fugitive named Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar), who teams up with a London-dweller named Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan) in a desperate fight for survival. Though uneasy, the alliance helps them stay alive and eventually leads them on a path that could change the course of history forever.
Though Peter Jackson is arguably the big name behind the project as its producer, the film is actually directed by visual-effects mastermind Christian Rivers -- whose work on King Kong earned him an Academy Award. One look at this trailer, and it becomes pretty clear to see that his knack for visual flair has not faded in in the time since he won his Oscar. Mortal Engines inherently requires some pretty outlandish visuals for the story to come to life, and that idea is already on full display in this first piece of marketing material. Now, let's just keep our fingers crossed that the film can live up to the lofty promise of this awesome initial trailer.
Christian Rivers' Mortal Engines will hit theaters next year on December 14, 2018. If you are a fan of the source material (or the idea behind the story) then let us know what you think of this first trailer in the comments section, below.
