Tetris is a 2023 biographical thriller film that is based on true events around the race to license and patent the video game Tetris in the late 1980s.
Let’s find out more about the movie!
- Tetris is a 2023 biographical thriller film.
- It was directed by Jon S. Baird, written by Noah Pink.
- Taron Egerton, Nikita Efremov, Sofia Lebedeva, Anthony Boyle, Toby Jones and Roger Allam star in the film.
- It’s based on true events around the race to license and patent the video game Tetris in the late 1980s during the Cold War.
- Tetris premiered at the SXSW Film Festival on March 15, 2023.
- It was released on March 31, 2023 by Apple TV+.
- In July 2020, it was reported that a biopic was being made about the making of Tetris, which will delve into the legal battles that took place during the Cold War over ownership of the game, with Jon S. Baird directing and Taron Egerton cast to portray the game publisher Henk Rogers.
- Egerton confirmed this report in an August 2020 interview, explaining that the film would mirror a tone similar to The Social Network.
- In November 2020, Apple TV+ acquired the film.
- Filming began in Glasgow in December 2020.
- Filming spots include Glasgow Prestwick Airport on the Ayrshire coast.
- In February 2021, filming took place in Aberdeen at locations including the University of Aberdeen’s Zoology Building, which was used as the headquarters of Soviet firm Elorg, and Seamount Court which was used for several scenes.
- Filming took place for 7 days in and around the former (RAF) military base at Balado in Perth & Kinross; particularly internal scenes for a quasi-military backdrop.
- Production then returned to Glasgow for a few days.
- The production wrapped up in early March 2021.
- Reshoots took place in 2022, and the film’s release was planned for later in the year.
- Early in the movie, Henk talks about how when he sleeps he can still see the Tetris pieces in his dreams. This is actually a real phenomenon called the Tetris Effect. The term was coined by journalist Jeffrey Goldsmith in 1994 to describe when something that one focuses on for extended periods of time starts appearing in their thoughts, perceptions, and dreams.
- Tetris (1984) was the best-selling video game of all time from 1993 until 2020, when it was surpassed by Minecraft (2009).
- However, it should be noted that that count includes all ports of the game, which vary technically from one version to the next. The now-defunct mobile version developed by EA had alone sold over 100 million copies, making it the third best-selling game after Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto V (2013). The Tetris franchise as a whole has sold nearly 500 million copies, making it the second best-selling game franchise after Mario.
- Robert Maxwell is the father of 9 children, one of whom is Ghislaine Maxwell. Ghislaine was found guilty of child sex trafficking in connection with Jeffrey Epstein.
- To prevent the project from being thought of as a kids’ movie, by being rated U for ‘no material likely to offend or harm’ (the British equivalent to a ‘G’ rating), Noah Pink intentionally added profanity to the script.
- In Aberdeen the tower blocks Seamount Court and Porthill Court were used as locations for apartment blocks 16 and 17, home to the character Alexey Pajitnov.
- Born in Peterhead, 30 miles from Aberdeen, Director Jon S Baird always wanted to use Aberdeen in one of his films and there are a number of Aberdeen locations seen in the movie.The character Alexey Pajitnov is seen playing tennis and is approached by the KGB on the roof of the West North Street multi-story car park and the ELORG computer building is the Aberdeen University Zoology building on Tillydrone Avenue.
- When selling Tetris to Nintendo’s president, Mr. Yamauchi, Rogers (Taron Egerton) mentions the power of collaboration giving examples like Mario and Luigi, Link and Zelda and Mike Tyson and whoever he was beating up In Punch Out!! The Super Mario Bros. and Punch Out!! References are follow by recreation of the original 8 bit games, but the Zelda one is in 16 bits. This is because in the original game, The Legend of Zelda, you could only play as Link. Zelda becomes a playable character until much later installments of the franchise.
- Production had to be shut down temporarily after a coronavirus case on set in Glasgow. Taron Egerton tested negative but still self-isolated for weeks.
- Atari produced about 300,000 copies of Tetris for the Nintendo Entertainment System under their Tengen label. Eventually, they would be forced to stop producing these cartridges once it was determined they did not have the rights to the game. The game is now considered a collector’s item and is one of the rarest, most valuable games for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
- Former Nintendo President Hiroshi Yamauchi was known to be a serious, stern businessman, but he had a very friendly, cordial relationship with Henk Rogers. This came about from their mutual interest in the board game Go. Rogers would often visit Yamauchi and the two would play together while discussing potential new games for the Famicom (Nintendo Entertainment System).
- Around the time Nintendo began pursuing Tetris, they had about 90% of the home console market, almost a near monopoly. No game console manufacturer would ever have that much share ever again.
- The game Henk Rogers is demonstrating at the Consumer Electronics Show is Go. One of the moves in Go is called atari, which is similar to check in chess. Atari was one of Nintendo’s biggest competitors and was involved in a major lawsuit with Nintendo over publishing games for the Nintendo Entertainment System without an official license under the Tengen label. Tengen is the center point of the board in Go.
- Roger Allam and Ben Miles portray Robert Maxwell and Howard Lincoln, respectively. Both actors appear also in V For Vendetta (2005).
- The KGB character, Igor Grabuzov threatens Alexey Pajitnov on a bridge connecting the tower blocks, Seamount Court and Porthill Court. Special permission was given not only to remove the window used in the chair coin scene but change the frosted glass to normal glass.
- During the end credits the main cast is presented inside pieces of Tetris. Only the ones of Roger Allam and Anthony Boyle (Robert Maxwell and son) turn as they do in the game. This could be to represent the unstable nature of the characters and their company.
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