J.J. Abrams; Elle Fanning.Photo: George Pimentel/Getty; Mike Marsland/WireImage
J.J. Abramsis looking back at 10 years ofSuper 8and the “transfixing” quality of its breakout starElle Fanning.
The director, 54, tells PEOPLE he knew Fanning, 23, was a star when he met her on the set of Steven Spielberg’sTom Cruise-starring 2005 alien epic,War of the Worlds.
“I remember meeting Elle when she was teeny on the set ofWar of the Worldsthat her sister [Dakota Fanning] was in. And when we cast this movie and she came in, she was so immediately just transfixing,” says Abrams. “She was so real and thoughtful and just in her skin.”
Super 8tells the story of six friends who witness a train wreck while making a Super 8 movie, only to discover that something unimaginable escaped during the crash. As they attempt to rescue one of their one, they discover that the only thing more mysterious than what it is, is what it wants.
One scene from the film stood out to Abrams in which Alice (Fanning) is required to cry in a homemade movie her friends are making. Later in the film, Alice shares a moment of vulnerability with Joel Courtney’s Joe Lamb—something Abrams says showcased Fanning’s talent.
“I remember, I think she was 13, and she and I were talking about how she cries in the scene before the train crash happens,” he says. “She is sort of acting in the movie, and she has to cry as the character. But then later she has to cry as her character for real with Joe, when they’re watching his movies of his mom.”
(L to R) Gabriel Basso, Elle Fanning, Ryan Lee inSuper 8.Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
He continues, “And I remember talking to her about the difference between these two crying scenes, that they can’t look the same. Her crying in the movie has to be a thing that she’s creating and she’s making herself do. And just in that conversation with her, she so got it.”
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Originally released on June 10, 2011, the film is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a newly remastered 4K Ultra HD release, available today.
The 4K Ultra HD film features over two hours of bonus content from the film, including commentary from Abrams, the casting search for the child actors and deleted scenes.
Super 8isnow availableon 4K Ultra HD.
source: people.com
