Dragonflight (2010)
After Battlestar Galactica was cancelled in 2006 it's producer Ronald D. Moore tried to return to writing but found himself at a dead end. At the 2007 Emmy's he found himself on a table with Joss Wheldon and his wife Kai Cole therein they discussed various projects past and present. Moore and Cole discovered a mutual liking for the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffery which Moore held the rights too and had tried to sell a series to The WB back in 2001. That had not worked out but the talk with Wheldon and Cole led to a follow up meeting, then some more formal talks, then a read through of the novel Dragonflight and Moore's pilot script. Wheldon liked some of what Moore had done, but was not wowed by the script, however Cole persuaded him to peruse it and a few more meetings followed bringing in Todd McCaffery, the son of Anne to help consult and be her representative.
It was decided to make a movie based on Dragonflight instead of a TV series partly to ensure the effects would be of higher quality than a TV show and partly as a pitch to TV producers, also Wheldon was burned by his experiences with Firefly, and Moore with Galactica. The story they presented expanded the story of Lessa, the sole survivor of the noble ruling family of Ruatha Hold on the northern continent of Pern as she hid among the 'drudge' servants of her Hold after it had been taken over by a usurper called Lord Fax. It is only in the final third does the Bronze Dragonrider F'lar come and discover Lessa and her telepathic talent to talk to Dragons, with the climax being the birthing ceremony where Lessa Impresses the golden Queen hatchling Ramoth, becoming the Weyrwoman, the new co-leader of Benden Weyr the last active Weyr of Dragons on Pern. The threat of Thread, and the lack of Dragons are used as a tension point and a hook for the sequel and/or possible TV series.
Anne McCaffery made a few notes and suggested changes to the script Moore and Wheldon took to Ireland to show her, and suggested they make some test footage to shop about. So in late 2007 Wheldon and Moore gathered a set of friends at Wheldon's house in California and shot a 35 minute 'short' with Nathen Fillion as F'lar, Neil Patrick Harris as Fax, Katee Sackhoff as Lessa, and a selection of their friends in minor roles including Alan Tudyk as Fax's bodyguard. Famously Edward James Olmos responded to a text by Sackhoff to 'come and see what we are up to' and turned up at Wheldon's house not knowing what was going on and ending up playing an ex-Dragonrider called Lytol whom Moore added in just for Olmos. The special effects for the Dragon Mnementh were done by Zoic Studios as a 'favour' to Moore.
Moore and Wheldon took the script and short first to Universal who had made Serenity and Galactica. A protected negotiation followed but in the end a deal was made that allowed Moore and Wheldon - now named as Executive Producers unprecedented creative control with the Studio also holding the rights for a sequel or TV show. A budget of $110 million was provided. The Studio requested they find some 'Names' for the cast. The film was announced at WonderCon in Feb 2008 to very positive crowd reaction. Wheldon and Moore presented a panel with Todd McCaffery in which they discussed the project and played the Dragonrider's short to the receptive fans. Fan buzz on the Internet was exceptionally positive, though some doubted they could capture the 'charm' of the novel which saw a sales spike after the announcement.
Dragonflight took 2 years to make with principal photography taking place throughout 2008. A lot of filming was done in Ireland where Anne McCaffery regularly attended set but refused to consult letting Wheldon direct Moore's script as he wished. The digital effects for the Dragons where done by an expanded Zoic Studios and Jim Henson's Creature Shop produced the practical effects for the brown watch-wher Tilsk that Lessa befriends.
Cast List:
Lessa - Katee Sackhoff
F'lar - Nathen Fillion
Lord Fax - Burt Reynolds
Master Harper Robinton - Stephen Fry
Lady Gemma - Judy Dench
Ramoth - Kate Winslet
Mnementh - Alan Tudyk
Lytol - Edward James Olmos
Released on July 16, 2010 Dragonflight was a smash hit managing to just take the opening weekend spot from Inception though it fell behind in the second week. Dragonflight earned $552.6 million placing it in the top 10 grossing films of the year. Internet reception was exceptionally positive, though some critic where sniffy esp about Sackhoff's performance the movie gained a 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. During the award season Dragonflight was nominated in a host of categories but won at the Golden Globes Best Film, Best Original Score and Fillion won best Supporting actor. At the BAFTA's it won Best Screenplay, Adapted, Best Original Score, and Best Costume Design. At the Oscars Dragonflight took Best Screenplay, Adapted, and Best Score.
With movie success the decision now had to be made regarding a sequel or a TV series...