1 minute read
CONNECTIONS
Above: “I loved playing the wisest character,” says Oprah (here with DuVernay), who drew upon her news-anchoring days to give Mrs. Which her deep, commanding voice. “Wise people never have to raise their voices. There was a scene where Chris Pine, who plays Dr. Murry, wanted me to become agitated, and I told Ava, ‘Mrs. Which doesn’t get agitated.’ When you’ve been around for millennia, there’s no need!”
Right: Reese, as Mrs. Whatsit, in a scene with Deric McCabe, who plays Meg’s little brother, Charles Wallace. “Madeleine L’Engle’s book is about what’s possible,” says Reese. “It seems appropriate to be talking about it right now because it asks, How do we become warriors for good in the world?”
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—OPRAH
Above: The crew setting up near Lake Hawea in Central Otago, New Zealand. “During the first scouting trip, we flew all over in a helicopter and I’d look down, point at interesting things, and then we’d land,” says DuVernay. “And after walking around I’d either go, ‘Eh, it doesn’t look as good from the ground,’ or ‘This place is incredible! Put it on the list!’” Left: Storm Reid, 14, as the movie’s world-saving middle- schooler, Meg Murry, with Levi Miller, who plays Meg’s fellow time traveler, Calvin.
Pine—a.k.a. Dr. Murry, Meg’s lost-inspace dad—consults with DuVernay.
Above: Mindy, Oprah, and Reese share a serene moment. Not that it was always quiet on the set: The threesome’s shared trailer positively thrummed with conversation. “Mindy and Reese are two of the chattiest people I’ve ever known,” says Oprah, dryly. Reese confirms: “If you came into the trailer at 5:30 in the morning hoping for a little bit of silence— absolutely not happening.” “I learned to enjoy the talk!” says Oprah. “I got into its rhythm.” Below: Oprah with costume designer Paco Delgado (left) standing by.
“I’ve never seen a girl of color like Storm at the center of a giant film like this. It shows so many other little girls they can be in their own adventure, too.” —REESE WITHERSPOON
