Beast Director Interview: How Brad Pitt in Snatch Influenced the Rogue Lion

Director Baltasar Kormákur plowed through a mound of production challenges while making Beast. The film wasn’t shot on a sound stage, but rather in South Africa, right smack in the middle of real environments. While there, they went above and beyond to do what was necessary to bring a very impressive-looking VFX lion to screen. As though all of that isn’t tough enough, Kormákur also opted for a visual style that would call for some incredibly complicated choreography because he chose to tell this story that involved a VFX rogue lion hunting an ensemble cast in the middle of South Africa largely through lengthy oners. Beast stars Idris Elba as Dr. Nate Samuels. When his wife passes away, he opts to visit the place they first met with his two daughters, Mare (Iyana Halley) and Norah (Leah Jeffries), South Africa. While there, they connect with Nate’s longtime friend, Martin (Sharlto Copley), a game reserve manager and anti-poacher. Even though Martin is brimming with experience and can even app