The Legend of Tarzan
Human. Nature.
Country
Production
Budget
$180 000 000
Box office
$357 243 061
Website
Director
Actors
Alexander Skarsgård, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Djimon Hounsou, Jim Broadbent, Casper Crump, Simon Russell Beale, Yule Masiteng, Osy Ikhile
All actors and roles (10)
All actors and roles (10)
Scenario
Producer
Jerry Weintraub, David Barron, Tony Ludwig, Alan Riche, Bruce Berman, David Yates, Mike Richardson, Susan Ekins, Keith Goldberg, Steven Mnuchin
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
Stuart Craig, Daniele Zannone, Suzanna Smith
Audition
Susie Figgis, Lucy Bevan
Editing
Mark Day
Whole Team (147)
Whole Team (147)
Short description
Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.
What's left behind the scenes
- Alexander Skarsgård admitted that one of the reasons he took on the role of Tarzan was to please his father. As the actor himself said: "My father adores Tarzan. As a child, we had Tarzan films on VHS starring Johnny Weissmuller, so my acquaintance with this hero began with them. But those films are over 70 years old. So much time has passed that this screen image could use an update. Of course, I can't compare to Johnny Weissmuller, I just wanted to please my father. And he was delighted."
- After agreeing to play Tarzan, Alexander Skarsgård's biggest fear was that his seven-year-old brother would think he was a "lousy Tarzan." The boy simply idolized Tarzan, and the actor didn't want to disappoint him.
- The film's creative team included two actors who have received an Academy Award (Christoph Waltz and Jim Broadbent) and three nominees (Samuel L. Jackson, John Hurt, and Djimon Hounsou). Each of them had been nominated for an Academy Award at least once in the Best Supporting Actor category.
- As part of the promotional campaign for the film 'The Legend of Tarzan,' in which he wears practically nothing, Alexander Skarsgård appeared at the 2016 MTV Movie Awards to present the award for 'Movie of the Year' without pants—wearing only a shirt, a tuxedo jacket, and white underwear. 'I am Tarzan,' the actor announced from the stage.
- While getting into shape for the role of Tarzan, Alexander Skarsgård pursued two goals: to gain muscle mass and improve muscle definition. Regarding the former, for the first 4 months, Skarsgård engaged in weightlifting (4-5 workouts per week) and abdominal exercises (6-7 workouts per week). The workouts included exercises for the major muscle groups, deltoids, leg muscles, and triceps, as well as back exercises. Initially, each exercise was performed 12 times, then, due to increased weight, the number was reduced to 6-8. The actor consumed 7,000 calories a day. As his trainer, Magnus Lygdbäck, said: “It was unbelievable. He would eat in one sitting what I eat in a whole day.” Skarsgård gained over 11 kilograms, and his body weight approached 102 kilograms. When it was time to work on definition, the number of calories consumed per day was drastically reduced, and the number of workouts was increased (they included exercises designed to burn fat). The actor's diet completely excluded sugar, vegetable protein, baked goods, dairy products, and alcohol – and remained that way until the start of filming.
- In 2012, Warner Bros. sent several people to cross Africa along the equator to scout filming locations. Director David Yates was so impressed by the photos they brought back that he immediately traveled to the selected sites to see everything with his own eyes. Staff at Loango National Park in Gabon showed Yates from a plane the most remote corners of the ancient forest, where the tree canopies form a continuous cover broken only occasionally by mountain peaks with magnificent waterfalls, and the sky reflects in the black waters of the rivers. Yates was practically glued to the window. Upon returning home, he ordered the script to be rewritten to include the beauty he had seen in Gabon. The film was shot at the Warner Bros. studios in Hertfordshire, UK. After filming concluded, cinematographer Henry Brankum flew to Gabon to film the locations Yates had specified (which, according to the director's vision, was intended to add authenticity to the film). A special tripod was created for the high-resolution camera to allow for the filming of majestic 160-degree panoramas. Every day, Henry spent long hours flying over the jungle waiting for the right lighting.
- Alexander Skarsgård explained: "I needed to gain muscle mass while simultaneously improving muscle definition, not just put on weight. When Tarzan moves through the jungle, it must be clear that this is his natural habitat, just like any other jungle dweller. Therefore, I had to develop agility and flexibility. I had to sweat for it, of course. After all, Tarzan isn't just a bodybuilder. He is a combination of strength and animal-like flexibility."
- Captain Rome was modeled after Clayton, a character from the animated film "Tarzan," released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1999.
- Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy, and Charlie Hunnam were considered for the role of Tarzan. Cavill was unable to participate in the project as he was busy filming "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" for Zack Snyder, where he played Clark Kent, also known as Superman.
- The character of Clayton from the 1999 Walt Disney Pictures animated film "Tarzan" served as the prototype for Captain Roma.
- This is the second Tarzan film in the career of production designer Stuart Craig. He previously worked on 'Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes' (Hugh Hudson, 1984).
- Alexander Skarsgård called his character a superhero: 'In my view, Tarzan is a true superhero; he doesn't need hoods, fancy gadgets, or mutations to be cool. His strength is in his fists. It's a story about what a human is capable of physically, and how a person learned not to fight the jungle, but to be a part of it.' Producer David Barron added: 'Yes, I also believe this is a superhero movie. Tarzan possesses immense physical strength, and life in the jungle has sharpened all of his senses to the extreme.'
- The film's cast includes two Oscar winners (Christoph Waltz and Jim Broadbent) and three nominees (Samuel L. Jackson, John Hurt, and Gimon Hsu). Each of them has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at least once.
- Alexander Skarsgård mentioned that he wasn't bothered at all by being unclothed in the role of Tarzan. 'I don't want to disappoint the audience,' he said. 'After all, everyone knows that before meeting people, Tarzan never wore clothes. It would be strange if a man raised among apes suddenly started blushing and covering his private parts with his hands. Tarzan went without anything, so I had to as well. And considering the very high humidity in the jungle, it was actually quite pleasant.'
- While getting into shape for the role of Tarzan, Alexander Skarsgård pursued two goals: increasing muscle mass and improving muscle definition. Regarding the former, for the first four months, Skarsgård focused on weightlifting (4-5 workouts per week) and abdominal exercises (6-7 workouts per week). The training included exercises for the major muscle groups, deltoids, legs, triceps, and back. Initially, each exercise was performed 12 times, but as the weights increased, the repetitions dropped to 6-8. The actor consumed 7,000 calories a day. As his trainer Magnus Lagdbeck recounted: 'It was something incredible. He would eat in one sitting as much as I do in an entire day.' Skarsgård gained over 11 kilograms, bringing his body weight close to 102 kilograms. When it was time to work on definition, his daily calorie intake was sharply reduced, and the number of workouts was increased (incorporating exercises designed to burn fat). The actor's diet completely excluded sugar, vegetable protein, pastries, dairy products, and alcohol—and remained so until filming began.
- As part of the promotional campaign for the film "The Legend of Tarzan," where he is practically clothesless, Alexander Skarsgård appeared at the 25th MTV Movie Awards in 2016 to present the award for "Movie of the Year" without pants – he was wearing only a shirt, tuxedo jacket, and white underwear. "I am Tarzan," the actor said from the stage.
- Alexander Skarsgård once joked that in the next film, it would be good to make Tarzan completely different. "I myself sketched out a rough script for a film where Tarzan gained weight and his sculpted muscles became a thing of the past," the actor said. "There will be no dangers and adventures in this film, but Tarzan will eat a lot of sweets."
- Alexander Skarsgård once joked that it would be a good idea to make Tarzan completely different in the next movie. "I've sketched out a rough script for a film where Tarzan has put on weight and his ripped muscles are a thing of the past," the actor said. "There will be no danger or adventure in this movie, but Tarzan will eat plenty of sweets."
- Alexander Skarsgård said that walking around naked as Tarzan didn't bother him at all. "I don't want to disappoint the audience," he said. "Everyone knows that before meeting people, Tarzan never wore clothes. It would be strange if a man raised among monkeys suddenly started to blush and cover his private parts. Tarzan walked around without anything, so I had to as well. And considering the very high humidity in the jungle, it was even pleasant."
- Alexander Skarsgård admitted that he had to get into Tarzan's physical shape twice. The main filming took 8 months, and he first had to prepare for it. But about six months after that, there were another 3 days of filming, so the actor had to go back on a special diet and start exercising again. "I was on a special diet and worked out for 8 months to get in shape. It wasn't easy," the actor later said. "A few months after filming finished, we had to reshoot something, and for me that meant a special diet and training all over again."
- Alexander Skarsgård said: "I needed to gain muscle mass and simultaneously improve muscle definition, not just get fat. When Tarzan moves through the jungle, it should be clear that this is his natural habitat, just like any jungle dweller. Therefore, I had to develop agility and flexibility. It took a lot of work, of course. Tarzan is not just a bodybuilder. He combines strength and animal flexibility."
- The film is dedicated to the memory of Jerry Weintraub, a concert promoter, producer, philanthropist, and three-time Emmy Award winner. He passed away from a heart attack on July 6, 2015. 'The Legend of Tarzan' (2016) was the final film to which Weintraub contributed.
- Alexander Skarsgård called his character a superhero: "In my opinion, Tarzan is a real superhero, he doesn't need capes, all sorts of clever gadgets or mutations just to be cool. His strength is in his fists. It's a story about what a person is capable of physically, about how a person learned not to fight the jungle, but to be a part of it." Producer David Barron added: "Yes, I also believe this is a superhero film. Tarzan possesses immense physical strength, and life in the jungle has sharpened all his senses to the extreme."
- Before starting training, Alexander Skarsgård was very nervous, unsure if he could build the musculature associated with the image of Tarzan. "I've never trained so intensely and actively before," he later said, "that's why I was worried. It's a serious matter. I had no idea how my body would react to all these physical loads and the special diet. But I had a fantastic trainer and nutritionist, Magnus Lågdback, I worked as hard as I could, followed all his instructions and tried not to slack off. In general, I owe all this muscle to long hours of training and a lot of chicken patties."
- Alexander Skarsgård underwent 4 months of continuous training to prepare for the role of Tarzan. As the actor later stated: "I practically didn't see my family during this time." Weightlifting and a special diet bore fruit. Skarsgård significantly developed his abdominal and chest muscles, which was important as his character appears shirtless. The film's director, David Yates, described Skarsgård’s Tarzan as "a man of our time," but "more muscular" than the character in previous adaptations.
- The film is dedicated to the memory of Jerry Weintraub, a concert promoter, producer, philanthropist, and three-time Emmy Award winner. He died of a heart attack on July 6, 2015. "The Legend of Tarzan" (2016) was the last film Weintraub contributed to.
- The second collaboration between Christoph Waltz and Samuel L. Jackson. They previously appeared together in Quentin Tarantino's spaghetti western 'Django Unchained' (2012). 'The Hateful Eight' (2015) could have been another of their joint projects.
- The very first version of the script was based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' (1875-1950) novels 'The Return of Tarzan' (1913) and 'Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar' (1916). Even this version allowed for many departures from the novels' plotlines, and subsequent revisions left virtually nothing of the famous writer's original storylines in the film.
- The film takes place in the Congo and in London.
- Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy, and Charlie Hunnam were considered for the role of Tarzan. Cavill was unable to participate in the project as he was committed to Zack Snyder's filming of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," where he played Clark Kent, i.e., Superman.
- The film is based on comics from "Dark Horse Comics."
- This is the second joint work of Christoph Waltz and Samuel L. Jackson. They previously starred together in Quentin Tarantino's spaghetti western "Django Unchained" (2012). Another of their joint projects could have been "The Hateful Eight" (2015).
- Trainer Magnus Lagdbeck told Muscle and Fitness magazine that ten days before filming began, the filmmakers and Alexander Skarsgård realized he wasn't ready. 'Ten days before filming, Skarsgård took off his shirt in front of the camera for the first time since starting his training. He was following a specific diet, so he looked toned, but he also looked very pale, lacked muscle mass, and had some visible fat in places. In reality, he looked quite good, but not at all how he needed to for the movie. David Yates was very upset,' Lagdbeck said. 'The muscle definition was hidden by fat, and the abdominal muscles weren't as distinct as they wanted.' The actor later recounted: 'I was panicking because I couldn't achieve the desired result. I ate what I was told, worked out hard twice a day, but I just couldn't shed the fat.' At that moment, Lagdbeck reassured the actor, telling him everything was fine and that bodybuilders look that way shortly before competitions. Changes were made to Skarsgård's diet and training schedule '...to burn off the remaining fat and remove all subcutaneous fluid from the body, thereby emphasizing the muscle definition.' By the start of filming, Skarsgård was in perfect shape.
- Emma Stone turned down an offer to play Jane.
- In the film, Tarzan wears a kind of trousers in the African jungle, rather than a simple loincloth.
- Jessica Chastain was initially cast as Jane, but she left the project due to delays in the start of filming.
- Trainer Magnus Lågdbeck told Muscle and Fitness magazine in an interview that ten days before the start of filming, the film's creators and Alexander Skarsgård realized he wasn't ready. "Ten days before the start of filming, Skarsgård took off his shirt in front of the camera for the first time since starting training. He was eating according to a special method, so he looked fit, but at the same time he looked very pale, and he also lacked muscle mass, and fat was visible in places. In fact, he looked pretty good, but not as needed for the film. David Yates was very upset," said Lågdbeck. "The muscle relief hid the fat, and the abdominal muscles were not as visible as they wanted." The actor himself later said: "I was panicking because I couldn't achieve the desired result. I ate what I was told, worked out actively twice a day, but I couldn't get rid of the fat." Lågdbeck calmed the actor down at that moment, saying that everything was okay, and that bodybuilders looked like that shortly before a competition. Changes were made to Skarsgård's diet and training schedule, "...to burn the remaining fat and remove all subcutaneous fluid from the body, thus emphasizing the muscle relief." By the start of filming, Skarsgård was in perfect shape.
- During a love scene, David Yates instructed Margot Robbie to hit Alexander Skarsgård. As the director himself explained: "Sex with Tarzan cannot be refined and sophisticated, so I told Margot to hit him." "David wanted everything to look primal and animalistic. He set us up for that," said Skarsgård. "When it comes to sex, all the veneer of civilization immediately falls away from people. They become like animals." "We really weren't Alexander and Margot at that moment, but Tarzan and Jane," added Robbie.
- David Yates stated that from the very beginning, he saw only Alexander Skarsgård in the role of Tarzan. 'I knew it had to be Alex and no one else,' the director explained. 'Finding the right actor with the right body is not easy. You need someone who can act (and Alex can) and who also possesses a magnificent physique, which is a great rarity. Fortunately, Alex has both qualities. Both Alex's build and posture are exactly how I imagined Tarzan should be. In short, I planned to work with Alex from the start. Of course, I met with other actors, but it was purely for the sake of formality. We even wrote the role of Tarzan specifically for Alex.'
- Margot Robbie is the second actress to play Jane alongside Alexander Skarsgård in a film; he previously starred with Brit Marling in "The East," where her real name was Owen Jane, under the operative alias Sarah Moss.
- The film's premiere is scheduled for July 1, 2016. Exactly 30 years ago on this day, agent, promoter, producer, and philanthropist Jerry Weintraub founded Weintraub Entertainment Group.
- Before starting his training, Alexander Skarsgård was very nervous, unsure if he could build the musculature associated with the image of Tarzan. "I had never trained so intensely and actively before," he later recalled, "which is why I was nervous. This was serious business. I had no idea how my body would react to all the physical exertion and the special diet. But I had an amazing coach and nutritionist, Magnus Lagdbeck; I worked as hard as I could, followed all his instructions, and tried not to slack off. In short, I owe all this muscle to long hours of training and a vast number of chicken patties."
- Upon agreeing to play the role of Tarzan, Alexander Skarsgård's biggest fear was that he would seem like a "lousy Tarzan" to his seven-year-old brother. The boy simply idolized Tarzan, and the actor didn't want to disappoint him.
- Alexander Skarsgård admitted that one of the reasons he took on the role of Tarzan was a desire to make his father happy. As the actor explained: "My father loves Tarzan. When I was a child, we had VHS tapes of the Tarzan movies starring Johnny Weissmuller, so that's how I was first introduced to the character. But those films are over 70 years old now. So much time has passed that it seemed like a good idea to update this on-screen image. I can't possibly compare myself to Johnny Weissmuller, of course; I just wanted to please my father. And he was thrilled."
- This is the first live-action adaptation of the Tarzan stories created for theatrical release after the highly successful 1999 animated film "Tarzan" by Chris Buck and Kevin Lima.
- Guillermo del Toro (2006), Stephen Sommers (2008), and Craig Brewer (2011) served as directors on the project in succession until David Yates was eventually chosen.
- A film adaptation of the book by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
- This is the second Tarzan film in the career of production designer Stuart Craig. He previously worked on "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" (Hugh Hudson, 1984).
- Emma Stone turned down the offer to play Jane.
- Negotiations for the role of Tarzan were held with multi-time Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps.
- In 1984, Hugh Hudson's film "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" starring Christopher Lambert was released. The production cost Warner Bros. a considerable sum, while the box office receipts were rather modest. Now, 32 years later, the studio bosses were understandably nervous launching another expensive Tarzan project.
- Alexander Skarsgård admitted that he had to get into Tarzan's physical shape twice. Principal photography took eight months, and he first had to prepare for that. However, about six months later, there were three more days of filming, so the actor had to return to a special diet and exercise regimen. 'I was on a special diet and worked out for eight months to get in shape. It wasn't easy,' the actor later recalled. 'Some months after filming ended, we had to do some reshoots, and for me, that meant special nutrition and training all over again.'
- Trainer Magnus Lagdbeck shared that the transformation of Alexander Skarsgård's physique stunned both the actors and the crew. 'On the first day of filming, when he took off his shirt on set for the first time, everyone was simply speechless. I heard an excited whisper and realized we had succeeded,' Lagdbeck said. 'I was floored,' Margot Robbie added. 'My jaw just dropped, and everyone else's did too. People stopped what they were doing and just stared openly, even the men. It was something else. Alexander worked hard to achieve this, and the result was stunning.'
- In 1984, Hugh Hudson's film 'Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes,' starring Christopher Lambert, was released. The production cost Warner Bros. a pretty penny, while the box office returns were quite modest. Now, 32 years later, the studio bosses were nervous for very understandable reasons as they launched another expensive Tarzan project.
- In 2012, Warner Bros. sent several people to cross Africa along the equator and choose locations for filming. Director David Yates was so impressed by the photos they brought back that he immediately went to the selected locations to see everything with his own eyes. Employees of Loango National Park in Gabon showed Yates from the plane the most remote corners of the ancient forest, where the crowns of trees form a continuous canopy, occasionally interrupted by mountain peaks, with luxurious waterfalls, and the sky reflected in the black water of the rivers. Yates literally stuck to the window. Upon his return home, he ordered the script to be rewritten to include the beauties he had seen in Gabon. Filming took place at Warner Bros. Studios in Hertfordshire, UK. After its completion, cinematographer Henry Braham flew to Gabon to film the locations indicated by Yates (which, according to the director's plan, was supposed to add plausibility to the film). A special tripod was made for the high-resolution camera, which allowed to capture majestic panoramas (160 degrees). Every day, Henry spent long hours flying over the jungle, waiting for the right lighting.
- David Yates stated that from the very beginning, he saw only Alexander Skarsgård in the role of Tarzan. "I knew it had to be Alex, and no one else," the director said. "It’s not easy to find an actor with the right body. You need someone who can act (and Alex can) and also have a magnificent physique, which is rare. Fortunately, Alex has both of these qualities. And Alex’s figure and posture are exactly what I imagined Tarzan to be like. In general, I originally planned to work with Alex. Of course, I met with other actors, but it was just for show. We even wrote the role of Tarzan specifically for Alex."
- The very first version of the script was based on the novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950), "The Return of Tarzan" (1913) and "Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar" (1916). Even this version allowed for numerous deviations from the plot of the novels, and subsequent revisions left nothing of the famous writer's storylines in the film.
- Preparing for the role of Tarzan, Alexander Skarsgård spent four months in continuous training. As the actor later reported: "I hardly saw my loved ones during that time." Weightlifting and a special diet paid off. Skarsgård significantly developed his abdominal and chest muscles, which was crucial since his character appears shirtless. The film's director, David Yates, described Skarsgård's Tarzan as a "man of our time," but "more ripped" than the character in previous adaptations.
- Trainer Magnus Lågdbeck said that the changes in Alexander Skarsgård's appearance amazed both the actors and the film crew. "On the first day of filming, when he took off his shirt on set for the first time, everyone was simply stunned. I heard enthusiastic whispers, and realized that we had succeeded," said Lågdbeck. "I was blown away," added Margot Robbie. "My jaw dropped, and everyone else's too. People stopped doing their jobs and openly stared, even the men. It was something. Alexander worked hard to achieve this, and the result was amazing."
- Samuel L. Jackson starred alongside Stellan Skarsgård in Joss Whedon's "The Avengers" (2012), as well as in Phillip Noyce's 1992 film "Patriot Games" (a sequel to "The Hunt for Red October," John McTiernan, 1990). Stellan Skarsgård is the father of Alexander Skarsgård, who played the role of Tarzan.
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