WHO’S THE DADDY?

It’s Chris Pratt, of course – playing Dan Forester, the timejumping teacher who just might be mankind’s last hope… How did The Tomorrow War first come to be on your radar?

I have to give credit to my manager, she’s really great. She’s tough and doesn’t let me do just anything. But this was one that came through that she really loved. And so, it made it to my desk, and I read it and loved it from the beginning to the end. It’s a story about family, about second chances, about fighting the enemy on the outside as well as the enemy on the inside, which I think people will hopefully relate to.

What was it about the project that made you want to be involved?

It’s original IP, which is really great. It’s a big summer blockbuster movie, but it’s also grounded in real relationships about a father and his daughter, about a son and his father. There’s multi-generational relationships in this film and the complicated nature of relationships between a father and a son, and between a father and a daughter. It’s an opportunity for me to play a character that’s a little bit troubled and different from anything I’ve ever done before, but it’s still fun. And we’re making it accessible and commercial.

As Chris Mackay’s first big live-action film, this was ambitious and it paid off. What was it like working with him?

Chris is a really great filmmaker. He’s worked primarily in animation, which is great for us because there are elements of animation in a movie like this. So it’s been really fun to watch him navigate having a command of the set.

I think he’s got the right temperament for directing. He never loses his cool. He’s always present. He’s always open to collaboration and willing to engage. Even if an idea is terrible, he lets you kind of go with it for a little bit, which I think the best directors do. Ultimately he has this movie in his head. He knows what he’s doing, and he’s finding a way for us to give him what he wants. I think you’ll be hearing a lot more about Chris Mckay – he’s just getting started.

Was there anything particularly hair-raising about filming The Tomorrow War?

I would say one of the biggest challenges was that this is an incredibly physical movie. We’ve taken our shares of bumps and bruises. Everyone has had a day or two where they are limping or walking around with a pulled muscle or a sprained this or strained that. It has been really physical. But that’s the kind of film that it needs to be. The minute we get dropped into the future, it’s insanely intense. And it continues for a pretty steady clip and gets pretty gnarly at points, like meeting the White Spikes.

What were your first thoughts when seeing the White Spikes?

The White Spikes are terrifying aliens! They are very, very creepy, which makes for a great threat in the storyline of the film.

Did you get to see the aliens before CGI filming took place?

Yes, it has been a very collaborative and evolutionary process getting the White Spikes to where they are right now. Some of the first concept artwork is actually much different than where it ended up. I was really excited when I first saw it, and eager to give input and very, very happy with where it’s turned out. They are incredibly scary, unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

How does the CGI compare to Jurassic World?

Well, I gotta tell you, this is right in my wheelhouse, doing a movie like this where you’ve got creatures that you’re creating using a combination of animatronics and animation, as it’s very similar to Jurassic. It’s been a lot of fun. I’m seeing – we’re pioneering, even – new technologies to bring forth realistic creatures. But this is something I’m right at home doing, and it’s been fun to watch other people, some of whom have been doing it for years. And others are learning for the first time. It’s cool to be part of that process and to be a little more seasoned in it so that I can give input.

This feels like a film that could spawn a franchise – would you be up for revisiting this universe?

Well, thank you for saying that! I really hope the film resonates with audiences worldwide. We worked our butts off. Right now we’re just focused on getting this one out there, but I really enjoyed playing Dan Forester and would love the opportunity to see where else we could take his story, if given the chance.

The White Spikes are terrifying aliens,which makes for a great threat in the storyline