Eden is a 2024 American survival thriller film directed by Ron Howard and written by Noah Pink from a story by Pink and Howard.[2] It stars Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Sydney Sweeney, Jude Law, Daniel Brühl, Felix Kammerer, Toby Wallace and Richard Roxburgh. The movie is based on the true story of a few European settlers arriving at Floreana Island, in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.[3]
| Eden | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ron Howard |
| Screenplay by | Noah Pink |
| Story by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Mathias Herndl |
| Edited by | Matt Villa |
| Music by | Hans Zimmer |
Production companies | |
Release date |
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Running time | 129 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2024.
Premise
editDr. Friedrich Ritter and his wife Dora Strauch flee their native Germany in 1929, repudiating the bourgeois values they believe are corroding mankind’s true nature. On the isle of Floreana (part of the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador), Friedrich can focus on writing his manifesto, while Dora resolves to cure her multiple sclerosis through meditation. Their hard-won solitude, however, is short lived.
They are joined by Margret and Heinz Wittmer, who prove to be earnest, capable settlers. Next comes Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn, a self-described Baroness and the "embodiment of perfection," who arrives with two devoted lovers, an Ecuadorian servant, a wardrobe full of evening gowns, and plans to erect a luxury hotel. Between inclement weather, unruly wildlife, and a total lack of amenities, all three groups find life on Floreana arduous. But nothing will test their mettle more than the challenge of coexisting with desperate neighbours capable of theft, deception, and worse.
Cast
edit- Jude Law as Dr. Friedrich Ritter
- Vanessa Kirby as Dora Strauch Ritter
- Daniel Brühl as Heinz Wittmer
- Sydney Sweeney as Margret Wittmer
- Jonathan Tittel as Harry Wittmer[3]
- Ana de Armas as Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn
- Richard Roxburgh as G. Allan Hancock
- Felix Kammerer
- Toby Wallace as Robert Phillipson
Production
editIt was announced in October 2022 that Ron Howard would direct the film, and he had begun the casting process and location scouting. The film was to be titled Origin of Species at that time.[4] In May 2023, Ana de Armas, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander and Daniel Brühl were cast,[5] with Daisy Edgar-Jones in negotiations.[6] Casting was permitted to continue during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike after securing an interim agreement with the guild.[7] In November, the film was retitled to Eden, with Vanessa Kirby and Sydney Sweeney added to the cast to replace Vikander and Edgar-Jones respectively, and Hans Zimmer was set to compose the score.[8] Edgar-Jones was forced to exit as a result of the SAG-AFTRA strike, as she needed to keep her commitment to Twisters, which had to halt production as a result of the strike.[9] In December 2023, it was announced that Richard Roxburgh, Felix Kammerer, Toby Wallace, Paul Gleeson, and Ignacio Gasparini had joined the cast.[10]
Filming was expected to begin in November 2023, with production taking place in Queensland, Australia, and a small unit filming on the Galápagos Islands.[8] Filming began on November 27, 2023 on the Australian Gold Coast.[11]
Release
editThe film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2024.[1][12] In May 2024, AGC Studios sold distribution rights to the film for multiple international territories to Amazon Prime Video at the Marché du Film.[13]
Reception
editThe film holds a 63% "Fresh" score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 27 critic reviews with an average rating of 6.5/10.[14] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave the film a score of 60 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Eden". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ https://directories.wga.org/project/1103727/eden
- ^ a b Canfield, David (September 4, 2024). "Inside 'Eden,' a Star-Studded Fight for Survival: Ana de Armas, Jude Law, and More on Their Wild New Thriller". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 31, 2022). "Just In Time For AFM: Imagine & Ron Howard Mount True Crime Thriller Origin Of Species". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas; Fleming Jr, Mike (May 14, 2023). "Ron Howard's Survival Thriller Origin Of Species Sets Starry Cast With Ana De Armas, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander & Daniel Brühl; AGC Joins Hot Pic For Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (May 15, 2023). "Daisy Edgar-Jones In Talks To Join Ana De Armas, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander & Daniel Brühl In Ron Howard & AGC's Evolving Thriller Origin Of Species — Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (August 18, 2023). "SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreements: Full List Of Movies And TV Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (October 30, 2023). "Vanessa Kirby & Sydney Sweeney Join Jude Law, Ana De Armas & Daniel Brühl In Ron Howard's Renamed Survival Thriller Eden Ahead Of November Shoot; Hans Zimmer To Score For Imagine & AGC — AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Kroll, Justin; Grobar, Matt (October 21, 2023). "SAG-AFTRA Strike At 100 Days: What Does The Milestone Mean For The Movie Industry?". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (December 7, 2023). "Ron Howard Survival-Thriller 'Eden' Rounds Out Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "Ron Howard's Eden to start filming in Queensland". statements.qld.gov.au. 2023-11-22. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (June 18, 2024). "Toronto film festival world premieres to include 'Nightbitch', Elton John doc, 'The Wild Robot'". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (21 May 2024). "Ron Howard's Venice-tipped 'Eden' starring Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Sydney Sweeney, sells in Cannes for AGC". Screen International. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Eden (2024)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- ^ "Eden". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 15, 2024.