Kevin Macdonald talks The Eagle of the Ninth

Kevin Macdonald, director of Focus Features' upcoming The Eagle of The Ninth, has talked to The Times of London about and politics, accents and the politics of accents in the Roman adventure movie.

Here are some quotes from his conversation with The Times' Mike Wade:

 - “It was always my concept for this film that the Romans would be Americans. That was my first idea about the movie and it still holds up whether or not we had any money from America, that would have been my approach.” - “It’s a film is about a guy who believes wholeheartedly in the values of Rome, and believes everyone else must want to become a part of the great family of Rome. Marcus thinks, ‘It would benefit them so much — can’t they see it is the only way to live their lives?’ He comes to realise there are other value systems, other people have a claim to honour in the same way that he as an American — or a Roman — can claim honour. This is a film which is some way reflects the some of current anxieties and the political questions that we all have.”

 - “That’s what we are doing — not simply reflecting on the Afghanistan or Iraq wars, but a sense of cultural imperialism. ...The parallel is definitely there, and it is part of what you would want the audience to take away from the film."

You can read the entire article here.