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Alan Moore’s extraordinary league of champions step out of the pages of Victorian literature – and straight onto the big screen in a feature film version starring Sean Connery.

The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Extraordinary crimes against the Empire require the services of extraordinary avengers – and they don’t come much more so than this band of characters plundered from the pages of some of the most widely read literary ‘standards’ of the twentieth century.

Sean Connery stars as the world’s greatest adventurer, employed by the British Government to lead a legion of superheroes the likes of which the world has never seen: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

The new feature, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen - or LXG as the anagram obsessed seem to want to call it - is the latest in a long run of films based on comic characters to hit the multiplexes. Created by Alan Moore (the critically acclaimed author of Swamp Thing, Watchmen, From Hell, V For Vendetta, Tom Strong and Supreme, among many others) the tale was originally visualised by artist Kevin O'Neill (best known in the UK for 2000 AD’s Nemesis the Warlock, Metalzoic, early Ro-Busters and The ABC Warriors). The League is a truly ‘extraordinary’ literary - and now cinematic - work of reinvention.

Avengers Assemble!

The League members are each staunch individualists - outcasts in fact - with chequered pasts and singular gifts that have been both a blessing and curse. Now they must learn to trust each other and work as a team for the very hope of civilization. With little preparation and no time to lose, they will be transported via Captain Nemo’s extraordinary submarine, the Nautilus, to the frontline of defence: Venice, Italy. There, a masked madman known as 'The Fantom' (sic) plans to sabotage a conference of world leaders by setting off a domino chain of explosions, sinking the entire city. The threat is catastrophic, the risks are staggering. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen have nine hours to save the world!

The premise of the original six part series follows the formulation of a group of special operatives assembled by Her Majesty’s (Queen Victoria that is – this is all set in an alternative 'steampunk' British Empire of 1898) Military Intelligence Division. Their mission: to protect said Empire - and it’s subjects - from all manner of undesirable villains, each utilising their unique abilities. Effectively creating a Victorian superhuman team, Moore gives the readers of the comic book a first class ride through high adventure in an era that never was – populated by some of the best characters ever written.

The tried and tested method of the superhero team-up has been a staple of the comics industry dating back over fifty years with the likes of X-Men, Justice League and The Avengers being among the most notable. What makes The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen stand out is the fact that the group of heroes (if they can be classed as such, some of them are distinctly anti-heroic, both here and in their original incarnations) are characters that inhabited the fictional worlds of authors including: H.G Wells, Jules Verne, H. Rider Haggard, Robert Louis Stevenson and Bram Stoker. What Mr. Moore gives us is effectively the predecessor of more recent superhero teams.

So, who makes up this extraordinary League? We take a look at the characters who alone stand between the British Empire and its foes:

Miss ‘Mina’ Wilhelmina Murray (played by the star of TV’s La Femme Nikita, Peta Wilson): The beautiful but frosty leader of the League, the ex-wife of Jonathan Harker, and the victim of an attack by a bloodthirsty foreign count. Wears a scarlet neck scarf to hide her horrific injuries. Distrustful of men, although she has an admirer in Quatermain. Wilhelmina originally appears in Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula.

Given more obviously vampiric tendencies in the film than the comic, Mina is central to the connectedness of the group - and is still the least 'super' powered, while remaining arguably the most genuinely heroic

Allan Quatermain: The once celebrated colonialist and explorer, now an elderly bereaved father and husband. This man of action is in something of a decline - addicted to opium and laudanum. Initially apathetic about the mission he must join, he redeems himself once pushed into action.

Created by novelist H. Rider Haggard, the character of Quatermain originally appeared in the classic ‘darkest Africa’ book King Solomon’s’ Mines - as well as in the sequel: Allan Quatermain. Former James Bond Sean Connery appears as Quatermain in the film – reprising some of the same spirit of adventure seen in his roles in The Man Who Would Be King and the Indiana Jones film series.

Captain Nemo (played by Naseeruddin Shah): Former rebel of the British Empire and her allies, naval captain of the gigantic submarine 'Nautilus'. Technological genius and devout follower of the goddess Shiva. Brooding and mistrustful of the Empire, Nemo is a master scientist. Created by Jules Verne, Nemo first appeared in the much-loved, much-filmed novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and later in the follow-up Mysterious Island.

Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde (played by Jason Flemyng): The timid, pale scientist, specialising in chemistry. Jeckyll fled England after being linked to a series of mysterious deaths in Edinburgh and Whitechapel were linked to his mysterious accomplice, the violent beast-like Mr. Hyde. Jeckyll lacks confidence and avoids trouble, but changes into his alter-ego with little provocation. Created by Robert Louis Stevenson, the scientist with the evil doppelganger first appeared in The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.

Rodney Skinner: An amoral former assistant to pioneer of invisibility Professor Hawley Griffin. Using a stolen, powerful - but extremely dangerous - serum, Skinner achieves an invisibility from which he cannot recover. An arrogant extrovert, he is partly insane from using the serum. The character of the real Invisible Man first appeared (and died) in H.G Wells’ (War of The Worlds, Mr Brittling Sees It Through) celebrated scientific romance, The Invisible Man. This change to the origin of the character both gets around the apparent death of the scientist in the original novel and is a move to distance the film character from the unsympathetic, psychotic portrayal in the Alan Moore comic.

Campion Bond: Rotund, oily, cigarillo smoking employee of the shadowy HM Military Intelligence division 5. 'Bond' can be jovial to the point of being annoying.

'M' (played by one of the stars of Moulin Rouge, Richard Roxburgh): Bond's superior. The League’s enigmatic recruiter is an elderly, hawk like man of vast intellect. Possibly links to powerful secret societies, M is perhaps best summed up by the phrase ‘polite, but sinister’.

The 'Doctor': The ruler of the Limehouse gangs. Powerful, cunning and cruel, very little is known about the man from the Far East, there is a strong implication that he is in fact the notorious Dr. Fu Manchu – who first appeared in the Sax Rohmer novels.

Dorian Gray: Stuart Townsend appears as Oscar Wilde’s seemingly ageless, doomed protagonist Dorian Gray, from his novella The Picture Of Dorian Gray.

Chatting with (an) Invisible Man

We caught up with actor Tony Curran, and asked him a few questions about his latest role as the invisible member of The League...

Q: Tell us about the character you play in the film...

A: "I play Rodney Skinner, an invisible man. I get involved with this scientist and take this serum and become invisible. And I cant find an antidote to make me visible again. The British government approach me to become part of the League and in turn for helping save the worlds he will get the serum to become visible again. He is a very dodgy character however."

Q: Will the British public take to the film?

A: "I hope they take to it better than the American press. One guy said to me’ I don’t see how the Nautilus would get up a gap that size in Venice’. Well what about someone who was invisible or immortal? I hope they enjoy it, because its’ based on British literature, H.G. Wells etc... And its action packed, very amusing and the costumes are great."

Q: What was it like working with Sean Connery?

A: "It was great. He’s a movie legend but very down to earth. I was a bit apprehensive to be honest but he puts you at ease. He’s very professional. He doesn’t threaten like some actors do. He’s a great laugh too. He takes the Michael and gives it too. I played golf with him. I wasn’t actually any good. He spoke to my friend on the phone and said ‘Your friend Tony. Tell him he’s a better actor than he is a golfer.’ I would be upset but its all true. Ha Ha."

Q: How do you find the difference between working on TV and in Films?

A: "Obviously the scale in movies is much bigger. I enjoy working on both. For me it’s a sort of different format, which doesn’t have really have an influence. Im focused as much on what im doing on television as I am on doing film. Its just the scale. A lot of people go from TV to film and forget about their TV work. Me, I would love to do a few more pieces of tele in the UK. Great Expectations or some British costume drama. I hope someone’s listening . Ha Ha."

Q: Did you find Mina Harker alluring?

A: "Yeah (she) was very attractive yeah. Bit of an Aussie bird. Bit of a rough diamond shall we say. But she’s a sweetheart as well you know? Pretty down to earth. She had a little baby over there, and she didn’t really come out that much. But when she did, she was a lot of fun. Lets leave it at that. Ha Ha. She would definitely make a good Catwoman."

Q: Whats next for Tony Curran?

A: "Its good that I’ve got something to tell you this time, ‘cos normally somebody asks me that im like ‘well you know I’ve got a few things in the pipeline’ ‘What are they?’ ‘Well I’ve got to paint my bathroom’ but this time I’ve got something to tell you. I went to LA for a while and got a manager, and got a job on a film called Flight Of The Phoenix with Denis Quaid and Giovanni Ribisi and we are filming it in Namibia in Africa for 17th weeks and I leave on the 17th October.

"It’s a remake of the 1950’s film with Jimmy Stewart and Richard Attenborough and its about a plane that goes down in the desert and they try to rebuild another plane from the existing one that crashed. It’s a good script and should be quite interesting."

Q: What do you make of the Sean Connery - Stephen Norrington spat?

A: "I never saw that much tension on set. I heard there was some, but obviously when you are making a film like that you get individuals with very strong ideas and sometimes they don’t always agree with each other. You know if you want to make the omelette you will have to break a few eggs. Maybe there was a few eggs broken but there was nothing too serious. Especially between me and Flemyng (Dr. Jekyll/Mr Hyde). My ginger brother. Ha Ha. I used to kick Stuart Townsend butt at table tennis but let him know I said that."

Design and Effects

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’s demanding visual elements required 58 different sets - not including the numerous miniature scale sets built in Los Angeles, and the several hundred visual effects and green screen shots. Between them, these techniques created new environments, or expanded the size and scope of existing physical sets to bring the pseudo-Victorian world to life.

Among the largest and most significant environments created by production designer Carol Spier are the famed Nautilus submarine, Captain Nemo's hyper technologically advanced underwater palace, and an enormous cityscape exterior of facades and rooftops of Venice, London and Paris. More than 200 construction workers were dedicated to this set alone.

The Nautilus interior was built in a converted former shipyard warehouse on the banks of the Vltava River. The massive set contained the submarines bridge, opulent stateroom, captains' quarters, guest rooms, ice room, corridors, and rocket room. Painted a sleek alabaster white, and gleaming from the stunning Hindu appointments and relics, the Nautilus appears every bit as wondrous as the underwater hotel described by Jules Verne in his Nemo stories.

Masquerade

One of the films' most elaborate and colourful scenes is set against the famed Carnival masquerade street party in Venice. More than 500 extras clad in elaborate period costumes are joined by fire breathers, jugglers, giant stilt walkers, and other assorted flamboyant revellers. The festive night time sequence was staged and filmed over two nights, including second unit coverage.

The Carnival sequence was shot on the exterior Venice set at CKD, by far the largest and most imposing set in the film. The area was roughly the size of four football fields and was comprised of 80 facades, hundreds of shop fronts, and three water-filled canals. When the city is rocked by a series of devastating explosions, some of the sets crumble, collapse or split apart. Two dozen special effects technicians were habitually stationed on the rooftops to throw debris and large fake stones below during takes.

The Call of Cthulu

The transformed version of this modern comic classic makes it onto the big screen in October – and should keep comics fans – and fans of fine storytelling in a gothic/Victoriana style - with shades of H.P Lovecraft’s Cthulu Mythos 1920s story cycle thrown in for good measure. Extraordinarily entertained indeed.

Here’s what critics have said about the film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen:

"Takes a very promising idea and executes its so poorly that all of the joy is drained completely away." - Scott Nash (Three Movie Buffs).

"For all the high-brow literary humor and engaging action scenes, the film gains no momentum and instead cruises along content to have you marvel at its potential." - James Hill (BET.com).

"The more you think about the film, the more it falls to pieces. It's riddled with logistical and continuity errors that keep the audience continually uttering 'Huh?'" - Rich Cline (Shadows on the Wall).

"Robinson and Norrington approach literature like lazy high schoolers in an English class, using the material when it suits them and ignoring it when it doesn't." - Josh Bell (Las Vegas Weekly newspaper).

"'League...shifts the conventions of the superhero set-up." (Total Film magazine).

"League...isn’t a great movie, but it provides more fun that a lot of the other mediocre superhero movies." - Lori Hoffman (Atlantic City Weekly newspaper).

"So little of real consequence is at stake that you'll have plenty of time to notice how the names on not one but two tombstones are misspelled." - Daniel Eagan (Film Journal International).

"What a riveting movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen might have been! And what a rickety mess it turned out to be when the people responsible lost faith in the origin of the material!" - Lawrence Toppman (Charlotte Observer newspaper).

"With its lumbering, geriatric feel and turn-of-the-last-century fussiness, this League plays out like a large-print Reader's Digest version of The X-Men

. - Donald Munro (Fresno Bee).

(of the comic book original - about which you can read a whole feature here) "It’s Alan Moore, its fun, it’s clever, it’s beautifully illustrated, it’s excellent." (Enigma magazine).

"Alan Moore writes comics...and Picasso painted a bit...Immensely enjoyable. 5 stars." (Uncut amagzine).

"Elevates the medium to the level of an artform." (Q Magazine).

"The godfather of British comics." The Independent

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is available on DVD now.

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