hen 32 people with pacemakers drop dead within 10 blocks of each other in a major U.S. city, the American government calls upon geophysicist Dr. Josh Keyes (Aaron Eckhart) and an atomic arms specialist to find out if the deaths are linked to terrorism. They determine that no terrorists are involved, and although the news is well received, the deaths are still a mystery.

  Soon, other bizarre disasters begin to occur, and scientists discover that the explanation may be more terrifying than anything they could have imagined. The earth's inner core has stopped rotating, rapidly deteriorating its magnetic field. If left long enough, the world will literally come apart at the seams.

  Immediate action is required, so a team of gifted scientists is quickly put into place. Led by Keyes, the team also includes astronaut pilots Col. Richard Iverson (Bruce Greenwood) and Lt. Col. Rebecca Childs (Hilary Swank). The terranauts, as they are dubbed, are sent to the earth's core to detonate a nuclear device that will reactivate the earth's natural motion.

  Director Jon Amiel was fascinated by the story when he first read the script. "We used to think that space was the last frontier," he says, "but there are actually enormous and 
actors
Aaron Eckhart
Hilary Swank
Bruce Greenwood
Delroy Lindo
Stanley Tucci
D.J. Qualls

director
Jon Amiel

 locations
 British Columbia
Utah
Nevada
Washington
California
outtake
To prepare for
their roles, Bruce Greenwood and Hilary Swank spent time with real-life astronauts Dr. Tom D. Jones and Colonel Susan Helms.

unfathomable mysteries just a couple of thousand miles below our feet." However, Amiel was careful not to let the special effects overshadow the character-driven aspects of the film. "This is a movie about a very special team of people on a mission to save the earth," says Eckhart.

  Oscar-winner Hilary Swank believes that The Core will provide a unique experience for moviegoers. "This movie tackles an interesting concept from a human point of view. It really gets to the heart of what this planet means to us."

  She was drawn to the film for several reasons, one of which was the chance to work with Amiel. "I love Jon Amiel!" she exclaims. "Besides, how often does a fascinating character like a terranaut come into your path? The whole concept of the movie intrigued me." A little known fact about Swank is that before she decided on acting as a career path, she wanted to be an astronaut. "I would still like to go into space at some point," she admits.

  Although the film has a serious nature and theme, Amiel says that audiences will have fun watching the events unfold. "Just because this movie is about the end of the world doesn't mean that it can't be fun," he explains. "No matter what, it's an exhilarating ride that's going to take people into a world they've never seen before."

- Alexandra Heilbron