AE Apocalypse Earth Release Date May 28

Finally, some information--and they've kept us waiting until nearly the last minute.  Two days ago, Thunder Levin announced on the AE Facebook page that AE had a new name--AE Apocalypse Earth--and that they'd received a release date of May 28.  That's 81 days, just in case you want to start a count-down.

With a release imminent, Levin has started generating some press.  Dread Central has a brief synopsis of the movie (apparently, our heroes are fighting for survival on a hostile planet, and what I believed to be camouflage body paint on model Bali Rodriguez may actually be her native form) and a few new photos, including one of Richard toting a very big gun.  Seems Thunder doesn't read my blog, because he called the Dread Central item "our first press."

Levin describes the film as "more pure science fiction" than anything he's done in the past, and though no one is quite saying so it seems likely that the quick release date is intended to edge in before the theater debut of M. Night Shyamalin's After Earth. Asylum took some flak for a similar move in 2011, when SyFy premiered The Almighty Thor (also featuring Grieco in a prominent role) and then released the DVD the same week Thor hit theaters.

Whatever the motivation, the turnaround time on this one has been impressive.  The movie wrapped filming in January, meaning that all editing, sound and post are on track to be completed in approximately four months.

B Movie Nation also talked with Levin about a number of current projects, including AE Apocalypse Earth.

PRE-ORDER AE: Apocalypse Earth

Richard Grieco is Captain Sam Crowe in AE

At least, that's what the AE Facebook page is telling us.  So far as I can tell, that page remains the only source of official information about the film. There are some updates since I last checked, including some shots of editing work in progress.  We can hope that means it won't be too long before more information (or a release date/plan) is forthcoming.

For the moment, I know nothing about the story beyond what I've mentioned before; it's shot in jungle-like terrain in Costa Rica.  A new photo on the Facebook page shows Adrian Paul and the camouflage-painted woman I previously mentioned in the water in a "climactic scene". 

Here's Captain Sam (the military-like designation doesn't seem to explain his Dharma Initiative get-up):

Richard Grieco and Adrian Paul in AE

About two weeks ago, I posted about Thunder Levin's upcoming movie, AE.  The movie had just wrapped filming at that point, but I wasn't able to find a lot of information about it.  Apparently, I wasn't alone in that.  Over the past several days, I've received a steady stream of search traffic on terms like:

ae richard grieco
ae movie 2013 richard grieco
richard grieco ae
richard grieco costa-rica
richard grieco highlander

Obviously, I'm not the only one looking for information about this film.  Unfortunately, I don't have much new to offer you--information online is so sparse at this point that I currently hold the number one search result for "Thunder Levin AE". 

The film does have an official Facebook page, and though it only has 80 followers at the moment and not a huge amount of information, there are photographs posted.

The photos will probably only add to your curiousity: what I've seen so far involves Adrian Paul looking vaguely like he's on safari, some Costa Rican jungle, some exploration of caves, at least one scantily clad woman painted in jungle camoflage and Richard Grieco in clothing that indicates he might be one of the janitors from the Dharma Initiative.

I'll keep you posted as I find more information.  If you have any better links, please share them in the comments.

Thunder Levin's AE

I wouldn't exactly call it a well-kept secret that Thunder Levin is either in the process of filming or has just wrapped filming on AE.  I can't work out a lot about the film except that Richard Grieco and Adrian Paul (of Highlander fame) are in it, it's being shot in Costa Rica and it appears to have a sci fi and/or horror bent.

That's because, though it's not exactly a secret, no one seems to be talking about the film.  It doesn't seem to have an official website.  Grieco hasn't mentioned it on his website.  If it weren't for Adrian Paul sharing some lovely photographs on Facebook, I'd know even less than I just related. 

Now, I know a little about the independent film industry, and I know there's probably little to report at this point. Based on the little bit of information I've seen, I suspect that the film wasn't commissioned and its creators have no idea when or where it will premiere, nor when and how it will be distributed.  Maybe they'll shop it around.  Maybe they'll submit it to festivals.  (Maybe I'm making this all up because there's no information available.)

Bottom line is, I get that there's not much news right now, and probably a limited budget.  But Thunder...dude...you've got two hot guys who, while they're not exactly Ryan Gosling at the box office, have pre-existing and loyal fan bases who will be eager to see this movie.  Tease us a little.  Show us pictures of them all manly and sweaty in the jungle and create a need to see more.  You know having fans clamoring to see a film can't hurt you, no matter which route you decide to go.

Seems like Adrian Paul is the only guy in this game who has a sense of the value of that kind of buzz.  Either that or he just likes sharing photos on Facebook.  After much internal debate, I decided not to steal any of his pictures to post here, but if you're a fan of Richard Grieco or Adrian Paul, you should check them out on his official Facebook page.