The science-fiction action thriller Doomsday, directed by Neil Marshall (Descent, Dog Soldiers) for Rogue Pictures and starring Rhona Mitra (The Practice, Boston Legal, Shooter, Skinwalkers) and Academy Award-nominated actor Bob Hoskins (Hollywoodland), was shot in and around Cape Town over 54 days with Moonlighting Films. The feature film will be released nationwide by Ster Kinekor on 29 August.
“A major draw for Rogue Pictures to bring the production to South Africa was the production value that shooting in this country afforded them’ explains Doomsday’s South African Supervising Producer and Moonlighting Films partner Genevieve Hofmeyr. “Partnerships like this play a vital role in building the experience and reputation of the South African film industry.’
The production drew heavily on South African locations as well as the local industry’s talent and technical ability. Cape Town and its surrounds were chosen for locations that could be transformed into London and a futuristic Scotland. South Africans headed up SFX, stunt, design and manufacturing departments, creating a valuable opportunity to grow the local industry’s creative skills base. South African actress Leanne Liebenberg features as one of the female leads and 100’s of South African extras were cast.
In Doomsday, a lethal virus spreads throughout a major country and kills hundreds of thousands. To contain the newly identified Reaper, the authorities brutally quarantine the country as it succumbs to fear and chaos. The literal walling-off works for three decades – until Reaper violently resurfaces in a major city. Rhona Mitra plays one of an elite group of specialists urgently dispatched into the still-quarantined country to retrieve a cure by any means necessary. Shut off from the rest of the world, the unit must battle through a landscape that has become a waking nightmare.
Production highlights included building a 300 foot wide, 30 foot high piece of the giant wall separating Scotland. The crew also shot at Cape Town City Hall, which was transformed into the exterior of Glasgow City Hospital; aboard a Russian freighter in dry dock; on a steam train and at a derelict slaughterhouse.
Steven Paul and Benedict Carver (Crystal Sky Pictures) produce with Peter McAleese, Trevor Macy, Marc D Evans, Jeff Abberley and Julia Blackman serving as executive producers.
