“The Ninth Planet,” starring Yura Borisov, aims to bring Russian cinema’s ambitions in the fantasy genre to international audiences. Director Nikolay Rybnikov explained that the film creates the feeling of a distant, unknown planet by filming in real natural locations, while the space world is completed with computer-generated imagery.
A filming schedule stretching from Russia to Morocco and Yemen
The production’s initial scenes were filmed in various apartments and streets in Moscow. The crew then built a large alien base set at the Moskino cinema park before spending two weeks in Morocco and two and a half weeks on Yemen’s Socotra Island.
Rybnikov said they also filmed in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. The director noted that these locations are in the same region as some of the landscapes used in the series “Game of Thrones.” Part of the equipment was transported by air and part by sea; Russian-made UAZ vehicles were used for scenes in the Moroccan deserts.
The planet’s world was built with natural locations and visual effects
The crew considered using a green screen and LED screens to create the appearance of a distant planet, but ultimately chose to use real landscapes. The deserts of Algeria and Yemen’s Socotra Island were among the main locations examined for building the film’s world.
Rybnikov said there was no major difference in cost between filming in real locations and creating the visuals entirely by computer. Real mountains, deserts and other natural scenery were enhanced with computer-generated imagery, while fictional plants and craters were added to the scenes.
Borisov was cast in the lead on Selyanov’s recommendation
The director said Yura Borisov was brought in for the lead role on the recommendation of producer Sergey Selyanov. Rybnikov said they needed an ordinary Russian young man who falls in love and that Borisov naturally fit the character.
Rybnikov said Borisov maintained his work discipline and attitude toward the crew even as his international profile was growing. He added that the actor behaved like part of the team throughout filming and did not give in to star theatrics.
Budget is decisive in fantasy cinema
Rybnikov said Russian cinema was only just entering a new field in the fantasy genre and that comparisons with Western cinema and Hollywood were inevitable. He said Russian cinema could make strong use of its own cultural codes, dramatic storytelling and characters.
The director said Russia had gained experience in 3D imagery, computer graphics, green screens and pyrotechnics through fairy-tale and family films, but stressed that producing a box-office fantasy film was not possible on a low budget. In his view, production opportunities expand as the budget increases.
Rybnikov said the budgets of well-made dramas or melodramas filmed in Moscow start at 130 million rubles for audience-oriented productions. He noted that fantasy films can cost dozens of times more than such productions. He explained that the budget consists of the combined costs of the cast, camera and lighting equipment, sets, transportation and numerous smaller production items.
International distribution expectations for the film
Rybnikov said he wanted to submit “The Ninth Planet” to international festivals, but noted that the production was primarily a box-office film aimed at audiences. He said the shape of the film’s international distribution would depend on audience interest.
The director said it was difficult for Russian productions to find a place in foreign cinema markets and that talks were being held with India and China. Rybnikov said the distribution of Russian films in Asia was not easy because those countries had their own closed markets, adding that he hoped Borisov’s recognition and the film’s fantastical visual world would generate international interest.
The cast affects audience expectations
Rybnikov said he believed Borisov would make a strong commercial contribution to the project. Ira Starshenbaum and Alexey Serebryakov also appear in the film, and the director said the actors had developed good chemistry.
Rybnikov noted that audiences often go to the cinema to see actors they know, but said the film’s success would depend not only on star names but on the overall quality of the production. The director said new actors can also come to prominence after a few attention-grabbing roles and added that audience interest was an important factor in casting.
