Gavin Hood gives an Enders Game update

Gavin Hood’s long-awaited adaptation of sci-fi novel Ender’s Game has taken a first tentative step on the publicity trail, with the director teasing a first image alongside an update on how the project is progressing.

“Hello fellow Ender's Game fans,” said Hood on Tumblr. “It's been four years since I first began writing a screenplay based on the classic novel. I love the book. And I especially love the character of Ender Wiggin. I was drafted into an army myself at 17, and Ender's journey of self discovery - his battles with authority figures he does not trust and his development as a leader - are themes I strongly relate to.

“We are now well into post production,” he continues, “and the famous zero gravity battle room scenes are looking fantastic. We started a year ago by sending our talented young actors off to a ‘space camp’ to train under the guidance of real NASA astronauts.

“They learned to move in zero gravity environments and experienced the wonderful feeling of weightlessness. Mix in some truly incredible visual effects work and today we are looking at battle room scenes that will blow your mind!”

The update was followed by a first image of the battle room, a zero-G environment at Ender’s advanced military school, where combat training takes place. They’re preparing for an alien invasion, so learning to fight is somewhat key…

Co-starring Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Harrison Ford and Hailee Steinfeld, Ender’s Game will open in the UK on 25 October 2013. Take a look at the new image, below...