Based on the 2009 real-life event and the memoir, Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, upcoming biopic Sully explores the quick-thinking of Captain Chesley Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) and his co-pilot Jeff Skiles (Eckhart) when they water landed the malfunctioning US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River.
All 155 aboard, survived the incident but while the media and the public were quick to deem the pair heroes, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) put them through a rigorous investigation, arguing that they could have got back to another New York City airport safely instead.
Given that the plane was was only airborne for around three and a half minutes before a large formation of Canada geese flew into the windshield and engines, viewers witness the emergency landing a few times in the movie; each told from a seemingly different perspective. However, Eckhart recently revealed to IBTimes UK that he and Hanks only filmed the scene once and it was edited to present a new aspect each time.
They took an Airbus A320; they disassembled it; they shipped it to Universal Studios in Hollywood; they put it in the lake and then they reassembled it. It was legit, and it was kinda like wow, this is a Clint Eastwood movie, he said.
We filmed that cockpit [scene] once over a few days so Tom and I got to spend a lot of time in the cockpit, which was cool because I really like Tom. Im a huge fan of his and we got to talk and I sort of fanboyed out. But then we did a couple of other subjective crashes, you know, movie crashes.
I would prefer in the movies that we actually crashed the plane, Eckhart jokingly continued. No, Im being brave now but however you can experience the most reality when youre filming is a good thing. The plane shook, we had big huge machines that would churn up the water and everything so they made it pretty real.
But despite the studios best attempts to try and make it seem like the plane they were filming really was landing on the river, Eckhart explained that he and Hanks really had to move around, amp themselves up and get in the right headspace before each take just to get the angst and emotion right because physically, the cockpit could be somewhat limiting.
What you guys dont see, is before how were getting the energy and were shaking our bodies and whatever an actor does to get the energy up and then right before they say take, we settle down and go through it. Its quite comical actually.
Also starring Mike OMalley, Laura Linney and Aaron Eckhart, Sully: Miracle On The Hudson is released in UK cinemas on Friday 2 December.
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