Director Lorene Scafaria romanticizes 'End of the World'
(L-F) Steve Carell, director Lorene Scafaria and Keira Knightley on the set. (Darren Michaels) Credit: (L-F) Steve Carell, director Lorene Scafaria and Keira Knightley on the set. (Darren Michaels)
The dramedy "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" turns the apocalypse into a romance, as lonely strangers Dodge (Steve Carell) and Penny (Keira Knightley) fall in love just before the earth is set to be wiped out by an asteroid.
We spoke with writer-director Lorene Scafaria (writer of "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist") about her film, which opens on Friday.
What led you to an end-of-days love story? I thought, "What if you took that kind of love story and you actually put an ending on it?" What happens to people if you take forever off the table?
Do you consider this your take on "Armageddon?" It was less a reaction to end-of-the-world movies and more a response to my love of romantic comedies that I feel like haven't been as romantic or comedic these days.
What makes Steve such a talent? He's a real person ... I feel like he conveys that humanity that not a lot of people do in his characters ... There aren't that many actors who can combine comedy and tragedy in the same exact breath.
