When first-time director James McTeigue started production on this adaptation of Alan Moore and David Lloyd's 1988 graphic novel, the most controversial issue he expected to face was Natalie Portman's hairdo. But that was before his original leading man, James Purefoy (Rome), left the production and was replaced by Hugo Weaving (The Matrix). And that was before suicide bombers terrorized London, where he happened to be editing his movie about...a masked rebel who bombs and terrorizes London. ''Hey, it's all part of the job description,'' says McTeigue, a veteran first assistant director (Star Wars: Episode II, the Matrix films). ''I've been around films long enough to know that this is how it was going to be.''
Long a dream project of Matrix masterminds Larry and Andy Wachowski, the movie got rolling last winter in Europe after the brothers reteamed with their Matrix producer Joel Silver and tapped McTeigue to direct. Centering on a mild-mannered young woman (Portman) who combats a futuristic totalitarian regime alongside the aforementioned terrorist (named V), the movie rings familiar: Like The Matrix, it's a sci-fi action flick in which deep questions about things like government and freedom abound.
But some snags emerged. First, Purefoy departed about halfway in after having trouble acting behind the harlequin mask that V never removes. ''In a way, he was in a guinea pig position,'' Weaving sympathetically says about his predecessor, several of whose scenes had to be reshot on the fly. Then the July 7 attacks hit London shortly after production wrapped there. But the director says he never considered toning down any violence or imagery — especially now that the bombings, though undeniably tragic, have made his film's themes more relevant than anticipated.
As for Portman's sleek bald head, which was shaved on camera in one nerve-racking take, ''she instantly looked amazing,'' says McTeigue. ''She just looked like it suited her.'' Added Portman with a laugh on the set last April: ''Well, at least it will distract from the terrorism issue, right?'' Here's hoping she's right.
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