Emperor

Name: New Zealand Film Commission
Price range: $

British filmmaker Peter Webber (Girl with a Pearl Earring) came to New Zealand in 2012 to film the epic feature Emperor starring Tommy Lee Jones and Matthew Fox.

International Production

Feature 2013 War, Historical, Drama 107 minutes

The film takes place during the precarious days after the close of World War II, and follows General MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) and his military intelligence head, General Bonner Fellers (Matthew Fox), as they face decisions which will alter the course of history, in an epic story of love and honour.

What I hope to do is to transport you back in time to a place that has been ravaged beyond belief by war. To a destroyed, almost post-apocalyptic cityscape. And to take you on the journey of some people who had to make some really important historical decisions.

/ Peter Webber, Director

40 Days shooting in NZ Reference

45 Cast members including 24 New Zealanders + extras

287 Total NZ cast and crew + extras

The Producers

Emperor producers Yoko, Gary, and Eugene

Emperor was produced by Yoko Narahashi (The Last Samurai), Gary Foster (Ghost Rider, Daredevil, Sleepless in Seattle, The Soloist), Eugene Nomura (Tajomaru, Surely Some Day) and Russ Krasnoff (The Soloist), and is a co-production by Fellers Film and Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment.

Composer Alex Heffes

Alex Heffes (Touching the Void, The First Grader, The Last King of Scotland), recorded the film score for Emperor with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.

I've worked with orchestras all around the world, and this is a unique experience, it's a working symphony orchestra, not a session orchestra... That makes it a really gratifying experience for me, because I don't have to work hard to get the creative response I want, it just sounds great.

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A morning with Peter Webber

Location Shoot: Auckland

Take a look behind the scenes of Emperor and see how Auckland was transformed into post-WWII Japan.

Disused freezing works Southdown, Auckland

Bombed out Tokyo set, Southdown

King's College, Auckland

Bombed out Tokyo set, Southdown

Ardmore Airport

Auckland University, Railway Campus

Yoko Narahashi and Gary Foster watching the monitor on location at Railway Campus

Night shot at Monte Cecilia House, Hillsborough

Night shot at Monte Cecilia House, Hillsborough

Japanese House set-build

Old Cement Works, Warkworth

Cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh on location at Ardmore Airport

Auckland Film Studios

Auckland Film Studios

Auckland University Railway Campus

Location Shoot: Massey University

Massey University was a key location, doubling as The Dai-Ichi Seimei Building, General Douglas MacArthur's (Tommy Lee Jones) Japanese headquarters. Take a look behind the scenes.