Development of 2000AD’s ROGUE TROOPER film helmed (fnar… ok, if you get it, you get it) by Duncan Jones was announced in July 2018, principal photography involving highly ambitious motion capture technology at Rebellion Film Studios in Oxfordshire, UK wrapped in January 2024. We had a lovely big info dump back then detailing casting, technology involved etc. But since then all has been quiet while Duncan and the team have worked to weave all their amazing elements together.
Almost a year and a half with not a peep until… Monday 24th June when Empire presented an exclusive first look on ROGUE TROOPER. And we can also share that with you now too, so without further ado, here’s all the info you need to know…
The first of the new images shows breakout talent Aneurin Barnard (The Goldfinch, Dunkirk) as the Rogue Trooper.
“…here’s the hunka hunka burning love that is Aneurin Barnard as the one and only ROGUE TROOPER!” – Duncan over on Bluesky
After this, we see Jemaine Clement (Avatar 2: The Way of Water) and Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows) as scheming battleground looters Mr Brass and Mr Bland.
“A little glimpse at ROGUE TROOPER. Jemaine Clement as MR BRASS & Matt Berry as MR BLAND. I got to work with so many brilliant funny people on this film. Can’t wait for you to see it!” – Duncan over on Bluesky
We also got a glimpse of a hulking war vehicle roaming the planet Nu Earth, where the brutal war between the Norts and Southers takes place.
A third image released depicts two Souther soldiers, lost, traversing the toxic wasteland and battlefield.
Behind the scenes images of actors Jemaine Clement and Matt Berry as Mr Brass and Mr Bland were also released, illustrating the facial capture technology used in the creation of Rogue Trooper.
Commenting on this first look, Producer Stuart Fenegan explained…
“We are so excited to share a first look of the film and show the amazing fidelity with which the team have used our actors on set performances to drive the animated characters. That level of detail and nuance was a priority from day one.”
Amazing images to wet the whistle, right? Here’s a great little image reveal reaction from the 2000AD In Orbit Every Wednesday podcast.
For those of you who are coming to this completely fresh wondering what this is all about, Monday’s reveal was also accompanied by a very hand explainer…
The Rogue Trooper Movie
An animated science fiction feature from Rebellion and Liberty Films, Rogue Trooper tells the story of 19, a ‘Genetic Infantryman’, who finds himself the sole-survivor of an invasion force.
Desperate to track down the traitor who sold him and his comrades out, the super soldier is accompanied by three killed-in-action squad mates, whose personalities have been stored in his gun, helmet and backpack.
The Rogue Trooper movie features an ensemble cast, that also includes Hayley Atwell (Captain America: The First Avenger, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Part Two), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk), Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters; Good Luck To You, Leo Grande), and Reece Shearsmith (Inside No. 9, Saltburn), Diane Morgan (Cunk on Earth), Alice Lowe (Black Mirror), Asa Butterfield (Sex Education, Hugo) and Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings).
Principal Photography was completed in 2024 utilising the cutting-edge Head Mounted Camera (HMC) technology and expertise of Motion Grinder (Indiana Jones and The Great Circle). Imagery and animation partner Treehouse Digital (The Well) processed and applied the data to the characters within Unreal Engine 5, handing over to Liberty Films’ own VFX and animation teams to light and finalise, bringing the incredible world of Rogue Trooper to life.
The film is produced by Stuart Fenegan (Moon, Source Code, Warcraft, Mute) alongside Jason Kingsley (Dredd, School’s Out Forever), Chris Kingsley (Dredd, School’s Out Forever) and Duncan Jones.
The Rogue Trooper comic was created by legendary artist Dave Gibbons (Watchmen, Kingsman) and writer Gerry Finley-Day (Dan Dare) and released by British publishers 2000 AD, home to Judge Dredd, Halo Jones and Strontium Dog.
So there ya go, all the new news with much more to come as we lead up to release. Commenting further over on Bluesky Duncan added…
“You’ll have to wait to see the film on the move, but one of the things I am particularly proud about on ROGUE TROOPER is that it FEELS like 2000ad. It’s like a beautiful painted comic brought to life. Also worth remembering… This is not a studio film. It’s a British Indie!”
Duncan Jones will be appearing at SDCC (San Diego Comic Con) on 25 July (2-3pm PDT at the Rebellion stand, booth number 2121) to meet fans and sign a limited run of the Rogue Trooper hero image.
Director Duncan Jones said…
“AHHHHHHHHHHHH! WE’RE ALMOST FINISHED! SEE YOU AT SDCC!!”
For the latest news and updates, please visit roguetrooper.com.
Bluesky
As you may have notice throughout, we’ve moved over to Bluesky for all of our daily brain farts, the old place we used to frequent has gone down the pan a tad and we finally found somewhere with Bluesky that felt like things used to feel when we were all a great little gang spreading the word. Also it being blue seems sorting of appropriate 🙂
So please, if you’re not already there, come join us.
Duncan Jones – https://bsky.app/profile/manmademoon.bsky.social
ManMadeMovies – https://bsky.app/profile/manmademovies.co.uk
Unklerupert – https://bsky.app/profile/unklerupert.uk
Liberty Films – https://bsky.app/profile/libertyfilms.bsky.social
