Whereas Jake Gyllenhaal’s physical transformation attracted a lot of attention ahead of the release of Southpaw earlier this month, it’s the surrounding environment that the actor will be thrust into for Baltasar Kormakur’s anticipated thriller Everest that is stealing all the headlines.
Taking inspiration from Jon Krakauer’s best-selling, non-fiction novel Into Thin Air, Universal has today unveiled a new featurette for the drama that highlights the film’s unflinching commitment to realism, even when the cast and crew were exposed to the icy elements. Joining Gyllenhaal on the treacherous exhibition are Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin and John Hawkes, and it’s understood that the majority of footage included above is filmed across the Italian Alps, with Nepal and the surrounding Himalayan region also used as touch points.
Considering that Everest is based on the real-life events of ’96, it’s befitting that Kormakur would choose to immerse the audience to the point where they can almost feel the icy breeze upon their rosy cheeks. Almost two decades ago now, the event occurred soon after two expedition teams reached the summit of the titular mountain, only to discover that it is the return trip that proves to be the more perilous. With a massive storm brewing on the horizon, the crew have to persevere through avalanches, inhumane conditions and each other as their survival instincts kick into high-gear.
Everest will bring together Robin Wright, Martin Henderson, Emily Watson, Michael Kelly and Thomas M. Wright when it lands in theaters on September 18, when Koramakur’s Oscar hopeful will open in 2D, 3D and 3D IMAX.
Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Everest documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind. Their mettle tested by the harshest elements found on the planet, the climbers will face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival. The epic adventure stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes and Jake Gyllenhaal. They are joined by Martin Henderson, Emily Watson, Michael Kelly and Thomas M. Wright.
