Watch the Movie's Prerelease Trailer! (October 11, 2020)

CIC

Space Marshal
Here's a treat you've never seen before! This is the trailer that was created to test Digital Anvil's ability to produce a Wing Commander Movie. It was quietly shown at the 1998 SXSW in Austin, Texas. Thanks to Banjo, now you can see it too!




In order to raise interest in a Wing Commander feature film among prospective partners and raise money for production by selling future distribution rights, Digital Anvil produced a short one minute trailer featuring an action scene.

Astute fans will notice that, while the Kilrathi capital ship is visually very similar to the Concom seen in the final movie, the space fighters are more detailed versions of ships in the games themselves. The human pilots are flying WC1 and 2 style Rapiers, and the Kilrathi appear to be piloting Vaktoths (previously seen in WC3). Shot in 1997 not too long after WC4 shipped, the cockpit sets and costumes are left over from the game's FMV shoot as well.

Overall, the short action sequence is very reminiscent to the scene in the theatrical cut of Wing Commander where Blair and Angel fly a reconnaissance mission shortly after the Tiger Claw makes a jump to the Ulysses Corridor.

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Original update published on October 11, 2020
 
I have to admit, seeing the original game ship designs looks really nice.

Remind me why they chose not to go with the familiar models from the games? Was it to appeal to a wider audience than the people who played the originals? To save money on set construction by buying those old fighters and redecorating them?
 
I have to admit, seeing the original game ship designs looks really nice.

Remind me why they chose not to go with the familiar models from the games? Was it to appeal to a wider audience than the people who played the originals? To save money on set construction by buying those old fighters and redecorating them?

From that recently published book with the chapter on the WC movie I gathered that it was down to imminent release of episode 1 and they were afraid of getting compared unfavourably so pushed hard in another direction. In the end episode 1 wasn't very visually similar to either 4-6 or the WC games so it wasn't necessary.
 
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