Michael Shannon Talks About His Role In The Sci-Fi Drama Young Ones

By Rudie Obias | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

Michael ShannonThe indie film Young Ones started principal photography in the deserts of South Africa last month. The post-apocalyptic science fiction drama is the sophomore effort from writer/director Jake Paltrow (The Good Night). The film features a large array of up-and-coming indie actors including Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In), Elle Fanning (Super 8), and Michael Shannon (Man of Steel).

In an interview with Collider, Michael Shannon talks briefly about Young Ones. The indie film follows a 14-year-old cowboy named Jerome Holm (Smit-McPhee), who is grieving the recent murder of his father, Ernest Holm (Michael Shannon). But when he discovers that his father’s killer, Flem Lever (Nicholas Hoult), has moved in with his sister Mary (Elle Fanning), the boy must use his wits to confront the situation and navigate through the harsh new world. Shannon explains:

It’s about the inevitable water shortage that will be happening, or is already starting to happen. It’s set in the future a little bit, there’s not much water left and I play a guy who’s a farmer and his land is completely obliterated by drought and he’s trying to take care of his family. It’s kind of got a Steinbeck-ian vibe to it a little bit. We shot it down in Africa. I think Jake is super smart. He’s really exciting.

Michael Shannon plays General Zod in the upcoming Man of Steel for director Zack Snyder and screenwriter David S. Goyer. The premise of Young Ones sounds like a cross between No Country for Old Men and District 9, with elements of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. A few months ago, the movie poster for Young Ones emerged and it really looks like the film has a lot of potential.

There is no official release date yet for Young Ones, but it’s due in theaters sometime in 2014.