Sunshine (2007): trivia & fun facts

Fun facts

• Producer Andrew Macdonald, working with Boyle and Garland, pitched the script to 20th Century Fox, who were reluctant to finance the film based on its similarities to the 2002 remake Solaris, which performed dismally for the studio.
• Screenwriter Alex Garland was inspired to write Sunshine based on scientific ideas about the heat death of the universe.
• At the same time, Boyle received a script from screenwriter Alex Garland, who had paired with Boyle for The Beach (2000) and 28 Days Later (2002).
• Michelle Yeoh was originally offered the role of the Captain (played by Sanada in the film) but turned it down as she felt she was not ready to play such a part.
• Sunshine was originally slated for a theatrical release in October 2006, but the release was later changed to March 2007.
• The film was originally slated to be released in the United States in September 2007, but the release date was moved earlier to July 2007.
• Curtis initially foresaw an esoteric approach for his character, but he later pursued a military and scientific approach based on the seriousness of the mission.
• Boyle saw Sanada in The Twilight Samurai (2002), and director Wong Kar-wai recommended the actor to Boyle when the latter sought someone to cast as the Asian captain of the ship.
• Mark Strong as Pinbacker, the murderous captain of Icarus I, the first ship that was sent to reignite the Sun.
• The film was released commercially in its home country of the United Kingdom on 6 April 2007, taking £1,021,063 in 407 cinemas for its opening weekend.
• On the weekend of 13 April 2007, Sunshine opened in 22 more countries, garnering US$5.3 million for the weekend.
• The following weekend of 20 April 2007, the film's release expanded to 44 countries, garnering US$5.9 million for a total of US$18.6 million thus far, considered a disappointing amount.
• Sunshine made its world premiere at the Fantasy Filmfest in Bochum, Germany, on 23 March 2007.
• In the film's first wide release weekend in Canada and the United States, Sunshine took US$1,262,996 in 461 cinemas, ranking no.
• The film was shot primarily at 3 Mills Studios in London, with cinematography by Alwin H. Küchler.

Source: Wikipedia

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