Today is National Face Your Fears Day, a day created to help people overcome the challenges in their lives and conquer them. Focus Features is celebrating this day with a trailer for their highly-anticipatedlive-action/CGI animatedhybridA Monster Callswith new footage. This movie was originally set to hit theaters next weekend, but it was moved into the Oscar-friendly holiday release date of December 23, which could give this adventure a big push through awards season.
A Monster Callsis a visually spectacular drama from directorJ.A. Bayona(The Impossible). 12-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall), dealing with his mother’s (Felicity Jones) illness, a less-than-sympathetic grandmother (Sigourney Weaver), and bullying classmates, finds a most unlikely ally when a Monster appears at his bedroom window. Ancient, wild, and relentless,the Monsterguides Conor on a journey of courage, faith, and truth.
Liam Neesonprovides the voice of the Monster, with a supporting cast that also includesToby Kebbell,Geraldine Chaplin,Ben Moor,James ChaplinandJennifer Lin.Juan Antonio Bayonadirects from a script by authorPatrick Ness, who adapted his own novel, which is based on an original idea by the lateSiobhan Dowd. Published in almost 30 languages, the novel has won many prestigious prizes worldwide, including the distinguished Carnegie Medal and, for illustratorJim Kay, the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Belén Atienzais producing, marking her third collaboaration withBayona, followingThe Impossibleand his directorial debut,The Orphanage. Executive producers include Participant’sJeff SkollandJonathan King, along with River Road’sBill PohladandMitch Horwits. Production on thisfantasy adaptationgot under way last September, with principal photography taking place in Spain and England.
Focus Features’s adaptation will hit theaters on December 23, in the midst of a hecticholiday releaseschedule.A Monster Callswill go up againstSilenceandThe Wasted Timeson December 23, withPassengers,Assassin’s CreedandSingopening two days earlier on December 21. There are also three more movies,Gold,FencesandWhy Him?, hitting theaters two days later on Christmas Day. Take a look at the new trailer forA Monster Callsto get ready for this highly-anticipated release.
