Fox wasn’t prepared to premiere material at Comic-Con, because, they claimed, everything was in such an “early” not ready for prime-time form. Yet 10-days later they have launched the official Jumper website, and have released four production photos from the 1992 Steven Gould sci-fi novel adaptation.
A genetic anomaly allows a young man (Hayden Christensen) to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between ‘Jumpers’ and those who have sworn to kill them (Samuel L Jackson). Rachel Bilson plays David’s childhood friend and also his crush. Jamie Bell plays Griffin, a Jumper who has fought and evaded Paladins since his childhood. And Diane Lane as Mary Rice, the mother of David who abandoned her son when he was five years old.
Doug Liman (Go, The Bourne Identity, Swingers) directed the film based on a David S. Goyer (Batman Begins, Blade) screenplay adaptation.
The website is pretty difficult and frustrating to navigate, so we have gathered the information for you below. I recommend reading it, as it certainly sucked me in. Looks like I might have to make a trip to the book store and by the book. Check out the photos followed by the information after the jump. As always, left click to enlarge the photos.
Throughout time, there have been individuals who possess the power to teleport (or Jump). They have used their abilities for personal gain, to escape from their enemies and to change the course of history.
The ability to Jump is a genetic anomaly that has existed for centuries and those who possess this gift have a freedom that most people can’t comprehend. They can transport themselves anywhere in the world at any time, for any reason.
Experience and emotion play a key role in affect of a Jump and depending on the Jumpers state of mind at the time, it can cause significant damage. Jumpers Jump for the first time at age 5. As they refine their gift, the skilled Jumper will cause environmental damage when in danger, angry or in a heightened emotional state during a Jump.
When a Jumper teleports between two places he/she opens up a rift in the fabric of space-time. The visible result of this process is a Jumpscar, an otherworldly “scar” that hangs in the air for several; seconds, like smoke from a cigarette.
Jumpscars are dangerous and will shred anything or anyone who tries to touch one. A bullet fired near a Jumpscar will behave unpredictably, which is why Paladins do not use conventional weapons around Jumpers. However, it is possible for one Jumper to follow another Jumper though his Jumpscar.
Here is some information on the group that Samuel L Jackson’s character belongs to - The Paladins:
For almost as long as there have been “Jumpers” there have also been those that hunt them. These people are called Paladins - an ancient sect that has long recognized the threat that Jumpers pose to the world, the Paladins have evolved into an elite organization of warrior-like individuals who find and kill Jumpers around the globe.
Paladins believe Jumpers are simply too powerful to be allowed to exist and also believe that Jumping is bad for the planet. Generally, the new Paladins are recruited by family members and the awesome responsibility is handed down though generations.
Over the years, the Paladins have cultivated a special skill - the ability to sense when a Jumper is about to Jump in the vicinity. This heightened awareness gives the Paladins a much needed tool to use when battling the Jumpers. Today. Paladins are so good at killing Jumpers that few make it to adulthood. When Jumpers start Jumping around age 5, their youth and inexperience makes it easy for Paladins to track them.
Jumper will hit theaters on February 15th 2008.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Holy Crap!
What did they do to a perfectly good story?
The only thing from that description that is in the first books (a new book is due later this year) is that the main character can teleport, and eventually people try to catch him.
All that back story about changing history, paladins, jumpscars and whatever are all new to the movie.
As far as the main character in the book knows, he is the only jumper, and he coined the term himself, until in the second book someone else develops the same power.
I loved the books, but they just need to give this movie and it’s characters new names, as it has been so radically changed that it’s almost unrecognizable from the source material.
August 7th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
I read both books and loved them. I know what the previous poster means about changing the story to adapt it for the big screen. They did change a lot and I don’t know if they had to change that much.
I know they hope to do a trilogy of movies so maybe they had to develop the mythology more or maybe some of it is what Steven Gould had in mind to begin with. The books say that Davy is alone but how does he really know that or about any history about jumpers.
I’m torn because this sounds like a good story too. But the books…….. I literally had the books with me at all times until I was finished reading them which might have more to do with Mr. Gould’s way or putting together the story and his writing style. I couldn’t put them down. I’ll wait to see the movie before I make a final judgement.
August 8th, 2007 at 10:05 am
where’s the link to the actual Jumper site?
August 8th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
is this THE Bonnie Burton? Artist extraordinaire -
http://www.jumperthemovie.com/
Love your How To Draw SW Book - you, Tom and Matt rock it. Got a glimpse of you at C4.
Here’s hoping Hayden has another triology to cement his career.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:04 am
hahah yup it’s me. Thanks for buying the book! And thanks for the Jumper link! ;-)
December 28th, 2007 at 10:14 am
can someone tell me what the books are called please? i really want to read them.
December 28th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
The books are (in order) Jumper, Reflex, (and the movie prequel book) Jumper: Griffin’s Story, and they are all written by Steven Gould.
The books are all very good, but the movie prequel book strays quite a bit from the first two and can really be viewed as taking place in an alternate reality to them.
After reading Griffin’s Story, I have higher hopes for the movie, but still don’t understand why Hollywood loves to take a property that was good enough to get their attention, and goes and changes and adds unneeded things.
January 1st, 2008 at 5:46 pm
The gene has existed for centuries, yet the conflict has gone for thousand of years. Why was there conflict before the gene existed?
February 5th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Gosh I’m glad other people are upset about the changes made to this story. Originally it was about a boy struggling with his emotions and experiences, and eventually revenge. The movie sounds lame. I’m sorry I ever got so excited…
Does anyone think it will be as disappointing as queen of the damned? maybe worse?
Grr.