In the sci-fi thriller VOYAGERS, a young crew embarks on a multi-generational space mission that ends in chaos, anarchy, and removal from reality.
We spoke with the lead actors, Lily-Rose Depp and Tye Sheridan, about what first struck them when reading the film's unique story. Depp said, “I think that’s it’s really special to see a story that takes place so far from home. They are traveling to this distant planet, but at the same time it tells such a human story, and we remain throughout the entirety of the story so close to the humanity of the characters.” Sheridan added, "The movie becomes hyper-focused on the characters and their natures... and the dilemmas they encounter when they start to feel their truest desires."
To prepare themselves to play characters who have… unusual experiences, Sheridan explained that, "These characters don’t really have any reference to society or any culture. They’ve basically been born and bred for this mission and sent into space when they’re seven years old, so it’s almost all they’ve ever known." While Depp seemed to pull inspiration from music, telling us, "I listened to a lot of kind of spacey-sounding, ambient music to feel like I was in another dimension."
The real-life captain of this ship is veteran writer/director Neil Burger, who spoke to us about making VOYAGERS specifically for the movie theater experience, saying, “I just feel like that communal experience of gasping when the rest of the people in the theater are gasping, or laughing at the same time. There’s something that kind of just brings a completely added effect to that.” He added, “That communal experience is really human, and I think it’s important… and fun.”
Check out our full interview with the cast and director of VOYAGERS:
VOYAGERS opens on April 9.
All images courtesy of Lionsgate.