Mr. Obi-Wan Kenobi himself–Ewan McGregor–narrates Humpback Whales, the next 3D, large-format film from Greg MacGillivray and his 50-year-old Laguna Beach-based company, McGillivray Freeman Films.
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The results of the collaboration between two-time Golden Globe nominee McGregor and two-time Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Greg MacGillivray (The Living Sea, Dolphins, Everest), is due to hit IMAX theaters beginning Feb. 13.
“We are thrilled to have Ewan McGregor narrate Humpback Whales,” says MacGillivray in a statement from his company. “He is a tremendous talent and his passionate narration will help to bring the audience on this incredible immersive journey with these complex and astounding creatures.”
Humpback Whales will dive into the mysterious realm of the 55-foot, 50-ton aquatic mammals. “In a splashing, gliding, musical mix of 3D imagery, underwater splendor and scientific exploration,” say producers, “the film asks the compelling question: What might life be like from a humpback's point of view?”
The film also rolls into MacGillivray Freeman Films' mission of supporting ocean conservation. Humpbacks, once feared as monsters that were very nearly hunted to extinction, are today making a slow but remarkable recovery.
“We hope the film excites and inspires people to better understand the humpback whale, as this mammal is critical to the ecological health and survival of the ocean,” MacGillivray says.
Newport Beach-based insurance company Pacific Life, which uses a whale as part of its logo and iconic images in television commercials, partnered with MacGillivray Freeman Films on the production.
“We are proud to be part of bringing this film to life and helping to educate the public about these truly amazing animals,” says Tennyson Oyler, vice president of Brand Management & Public Affairs for Pacific Life. “Our partnership with Humpback Whales helps showcase that the whale is more than just a company logo for us. It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the future.”
It's amazing Scottish actor McGregor could fit narration into his schedule. Currently making his Broadway debut as “Henry” in Tom Stoppard's Tony-winning play The Real Thing, McGregor stars in Rodrigo Garcia's Last Days in the Desert premiering during the Sundance Film Festival that opens Jan. 22 and opposite Johnny Depp in Mortdecai opening in theaters Jan. 23. McGregor's other film projects scheduled to open in 2015 include Jane Got a Gun, Son of a Gun, Our Kind of Traitor and Don Cheadle's Miles Davis biopic.
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OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.