One thing many don’t realize about Herman Melville’s inspiring Moby-Dick novel was the fact that the author took inspiration from the near-supernatural events that the crew of New England whaling ship Essex allegedly faced in the winter of 1820. Crossing paths with an immense and violent sperm whale, all aboard the vessel were essentially left at the mercy of the elements, and it’s this man versus nature dynamic that will underpin Ron Howard’s latest feature, In the Heart of the Sea.
Leading an ensemble crew of explorers, Chris Hemsworth leads the charge as first mate Benjamin Walker, and as today’s all-new trailer reveals, it isn’t long before all members of the Essex relaize that they are out of their depth in every sense.
And though there’s a slew of effects shot in this latest sizzle reel, Howard has long made his feelings clear about rendering a CG-heavy blockbuster that looks, sounds and feels real – an assault on the senses, essentially. Tracking down and hunting the elusive behemoth may form much of the overarching narrative, but given that the Essex crew were cast astray for almost 90 days, Moby Dick won’t be the only problem for Hemsworth and Co. to tackle, as they come to terms with hunger, dehydration and each other.
Originally pegged for a release back in March, Ron Howard’s maritime adventure has been marshalled into the thick of Oscar season, when In the Heart of the Sea opens on December 11.
In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. But that told only half the story. “In the Heart of the Sea” reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.
