2014 may well be the year of the ancient action epic. In addition to the two Hercules-centric action-adventures (Kellan Lutz’s The Legend of Hercules and Dwayne Johnson’s Hercules: The Thracian Wars) set to storm theaters, we’re also expecting highly-anticipated midquel 300: Rise of an Empire, Darren Aronofsky’s Noah, Ridley Scott’s Exodus and, of course, historical disaster flick Pompeii.
The final trailer for that aforementioned film, directed by Resident Evil helmer Paul W.S. Anderson, recently premiered online. Focusing heavily on the considerable special effects in the movie, the preview also finds time to highlight its leading man, Game of Thrones‘ Kit Harington, and more specifically, his washboard abs.
Check it out below:
I’m hesitant to say that I’m excited for Pompeii, particularly given Anderson’s reputation for delivering second-rate action flicks (the Resident Evils, The Three Musketeers), but the special effects and cast both look surprisingly solid. In addition to Harington, Pompeii stars Emily Browning, Carrie-Anne Moss, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica Lucas, Kiefer Sutherland and Jared Harris.
One intriguing aspect of Pompeii is its script; Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes had a hand in penning the screenplay, so we can probably expect that the dialogue will be at least somewhat suited to a film set in an ancient Roman city.
The story will follow a Spartacus-like hero who attempts to flee Pompeii with his lady love after a major volcanic eruption. The official plot synopsis reads as follows:
Set in 79 A.D., POMPEII tells the epic story of Milo (Kit Harington), a slave turned invincible gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia (Emily Browning), the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.
Beyond great visuals, I wouldn’t expect anything Oscar-worthy here, but fans of this brand of swords-and-sandals cinema will likely find a lot to enjoy in Pompeii‘s expensive fireballs and period-accurate dress (not to mention the vicious gladiator battles we get snippets of in the trailer). Hopefully, Anderson will shoot for an R-rating so as not to water down the brutality of both the arena-set battles and the carnage Vesuvius wrought on Pompeii’s citizens.
Tell us, are you excited for this historical action epic, or will you likely skip it and watch reruns of Starz’s Spartacus: Blood and Sand instead? Let us know in the comments section!
Pompeii will erupt at the box office on February 21st, 2014.