Deconstructing the Engine: Mortal Engines Film Facts & Lore
Adapting Philip Reeve's visionary novels was a monumental task. The world of Mortal Engines, built on the revolutionary concept of "Municipal Darwinism," required a cinematic vision as vast as the Traction Cities themselves.
Spearheaded by Peter Jackson's production team at WingNut Films, the movie brought the post-apocalyptic Great Hunting Ground to life with a unique blend of steampunk aesthetics and grand-scale action. But translating such a dense world from page to screen involves countless creative choices, hidden details, and fascinating compromises.
From the origins of a Stalker's name to the subtle nods hidden in London's Museum, let's fire up the engines and explore the trivia, lore, and behind-the-scenes facts of the Mortal Engines feature film.
- The movie's title comes from a line in Act 3, Scene 3 of William Shakespeare's Othello, where Othello refers to cannons as "mortal engines."
- This is the first of Philip Reeve's novels to be turned into a movie. Reeve's other popular series, Railhead, has also been optioned for film.
- The film was produced by WingNut Films, Peter Jackson's production company responsible for all his major projects from Braindead to The Hobbit.
- Peter Jackson purchased the film rights way back in 2001. The film took nearly 17 years to reach the screen.
- The long delay was primarily due to Jackson's commitments. He had originally intended to direct it himself around 2008 before the saga of getting The Hobbit's production started pulled him away.
- This makes it the first film written by Peter Jackson (with his usual partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens) that he has not directed himself.
- Directing duties were given to Christian Rivers, a long-time Jackson protégé who began as a storyboard artist on Jackson's early film Braindead and later won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for his work on King Kong.
- Filming primarily took place at Stone Street Studios in Wellington, New Zealand. The production received a significant rebate from the New Zealand government in recognition of the employment opportunities it created.
- A staggering 63 intricate sets were built for the film, including the vast multi-levelled interior of London's "GUT," the eerie workshop of Shrike, and the grand interior of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which housed the superweapon MEDUSA.
- The film's aesthetic was carefully managed. Director Christian Rivers deliberately steered away from a typical post-apocalyptic look: "We didn't want it to be 'Mad Max.' We didn't want it to be 'Hunger Games' or 'Divergent.' That's kind of a bleak, dystopian sort of film."
- The score was composed by Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL), who said he tried to "find a balance between the brutality of Mad Max while honoring the orchestral writing that made the 50s great."
- Famed Lord of the Rings concept designer John Howe also contributed to the visual design of the movie, helping to shape the look of the Traction Cities.
- Icelandic actress Hera Hilmar was cast as the resilient protagonist Hester Shaw.
- A major change from the book was made to Hester's appearance. In the novel, a sword wound from Valentine left her with a grotesque scar, a mangled nose, and only one eye. For the film, Hester Shaw has two eyes and a more subdued scar to help audiences connect with the character. Learn more about her character arc!
- In the London Museum, look for the Minions from Despicable Me, displayed as "Deities of Lost America." This is a nod to the novel, where citizens of the future mistake ancient Disney characters for gods, specifically worshipping Mickey Mouse.
- Another museum Easter egg: the pin worn by Chudleigh Pomeroy is the same acorn-button pin that Bilbo Baggins wore in The Hobbit.
- Katherine Valentine holds a book about the Sixty Minute War by Nimrod Pennyroyal. This is a great nod to the sequel novel, Predator's Gold, where Pennyroyal is a major (and fraudulent) character.
- The character name "Shrike" was inspired by Max Schreck, the actor from the silent film Nosferatu. Author Philip Reeve slightly amended the name after learning the movie Shrek was coming out.
- The prey town at the start of the film, called Salthook in the novel, was renamed Salzhaken for the movie.
- The opening chase scene is conceptually modeled on the famous opening of Star Wars: A New Hope, with a colossal predator pursuing a much smaller vessel.
- The first trailer for the film made its debut with screenings of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
- South Korean singer and artist Jihae plays Anna Fang, a key figure in the Anti-Traction League. She also performs a cover of 'There'll Always Be An England' for the film's credits.
- The novel originally started as a short story called Urbivore. That story featured a male aviator named Fang, whose name was carried over. The term "urbivore" was later used by Reeve in the final novel, A Darkling Plain.
- Mark Hadlow, who plays the historian Orme Wreyland, also played the dwarf Dori in The Hobbit trilogy.
- The legal entity registered for the production was a company named 'Squeaky Wheels Ltd.'
- 'Squeaky Wheels' was also the working title of the movie, used during production and for shipping to theatres to maintain secrecy.
- Author Philip Reeve and his son made cameo appearances as extras in the film during a secret trip to the New Zealand set in May 2017.
- Peter Jackson has a cameo of his own. His face can be seen on wanted posters displayed on electronic screens around London.
- While Liam Vogel was the official second unit director, Peter Jackson often jumped in to direct second unit shots himself.
- When Hester and Tom share a Twinkie, it's a nod to the urban legend that Twinkies can last forever.
- The film has a significantly different, more hopeful ending than the novel, which concludes on a much darker and more ambiguous note.
- When London's public address system warns citizens to "Be aware, children may be temporarily separated from parents," this was a deliberate real-world reference by the filmmakers to American immigration policies of the time.
- Completely non-related but still interesting, Darth Maul says 33 words in The Phantom Menace.
- Just chipping some of the greatest Darth Vader quotes from Star Wars here, just because we all love some good Star Wars trivia!
short story collection.
