An automobile can be a key indicator of time period in the movies. That's why for the upcoming science-fiction film "Ender's Game," which stars Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley and Asa Butterfield, it was crucial to create a car that would evoke a futuristic world. According to AutoBlog, Digital Domain, the special effects company involved with the major motion picture, enlisted Audi to develop a virtual car that would set the scene for a high-tech realm. These little details may be crucial to pulling viewers in and creating an authentic experience while watching the film. Without the perfect vehicle, the story may not have seemed as realistic.
Audi goes all out
For these reasons, Head of Audi Exterior Frank Rimili and designer Björn Wehrli put some serious effort into creating a believable, hyper-detailed vehicle that includes a streamlined body and minimalist built-in tires. The finished creation, the Fleet Shuttle Quattro, sports the automaker's signature four overlapping rings. While it looks surprisingly life-like, it is merely a computer-generated graphic.
"The Audi in (Ender's Game) represents progress and it appears in key scenes that have a lasting impact on the life of the protagonist," said Florian Zitzlsperger, brand partnership chief at Audi, as quoted by Times Live. "This means our brand becomes a part of a fictional world."
In "Ender's Game," Harrison Ford's character will be driving the Fleet Shuttle Quattro. However, because the vehicle wasn't actually created in real life, Autoweek explained that he was in a standard Audi model during filming, which was then swapped out for the digital design during post-production.
Fiction versus reality
While viewers may be anxious to drive the Fleet Shuttle Quattro themselves, the news outlet noted that Audi has no plans to actually produce the automobile. Still, this is not the first time the manufacturer has been involved in movies. The 2004 film "I, Robot" starring Will Smith featured the Audi RSQ, while the movie "Tron" also included vehicles from the brand.
The movie hits theaters Nov. 1. In addition to revealing the Fleet Shuttle Quattro design, Audi has also provided a short documentary detailing the steps that went into designing the car. It may seem like a lot of work for an automobile that will never actually be on the road, but it will certainly make the film feel more authentic for fans of the science-fiction novel that it's based on.