Gareth Edwards challenges production rules and tells us how he has reinvented science fiction
Do you remember when the idea of banning artificial intelligence sounded like something out of a science fiction story? Gareth Edwards, director of The Creator, talks to us about how his vision of a distant future has become a mirror of the present we live in.
Between ethical dilemmas and production surprises
We are in a time when the debate about AI has become so hot that Hollywood already establishes regulations for its use in screenwriting. In that context, The Creator resonates like a prophetic echo. It not only addresses the risks of AI, but also delves into complex human relationships. Inspired by the Japanese manga Lone Wolf and Cub, Edwards addresses the relationship of Joshua, played by John David Washington, with the humanoid android Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles).
One of the most unusual aspects of the film is its production approach. Can you imagine a large-scale project shot as if it were indie? Well, that’s precisely what Edwards did. Shot primarily on a Sony FX3 camera, ‘The Creator’ defies conventionreserving the sci-fi effects for the post-production stage.
Influence of Lone Wolf and Cub
It is fascinating the power that a work of manga can have in the creation of a film. Gareth Edwards has been clear about the influence that Lone Wolf and Cub, a gem of Japanese manga, had on the development of his film The Creator. This manga series chronicles the adventures of a disgraced samurai and his young son, and was first published in 1970. It is no coincidence that the concept of a warrior and a boy in a dangerous situation influenced the relationship between Joshua and Alphie in the film. What is interesting is how Edwards has managed to mix this Eastern cultural influence with a hot topic such as artificial intelligence, to create a work that resonates both emotionally and intellectually. These layers add a richness that extends beyond the main plot, offering both an action story and relevant social commentary.
Edwards’ premonition and the public reaction
Four years ago, when Edwards began writing the script, the AI landscape was considerably different. “When I started writing this four years ago, the biggest note I got from everyone was, ‘But why would you ban AI?’ Why would anyone do that?’” the director shared in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Time has proven him right, and today, the director feels that his film preaches to the convinced.
After seven years of silence since Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Edwards reappears at an opportune time. The first comments about The Creator are highly positiveplacing it as one of the best science fiction films of 2023. We cannot forget that Rogue One led to the creation of the series Andor, whose second season is still on hiatus due to the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Release date
On top of all this, the high expectations surrounding The Creator are not only a testament to its thematic relevance, but also a sign of Gareth Edwards’s resiliency in the film industry. The director returns to the ring after a long hiatus, and its presence already generates an anticipatory buzz. Will The Creator be the beginning of a new successful phase for Edwards? Only time will tell. The Creator is expected to hit theaters on September 29. With high expectations and reality increasingly closer to its dystopian fiction, the film is already making its mark before its official release.
