Drake Doremus, acclaimed director and writer of sci-fi romance "Equals," was not a sci-fi type of guy as it appeared cold and distant to him. The genre fascinated him though and in the film, he intended to do something different and set a romance in an interesting landscape to put warmth in the story.
"Equals" follows two forbidden lovers Nia (Kristen Stewart) and Silas (Nicholas Hoult) who live in an emotionless, futuristic Utopian world where showing emotions and falling in love are prohibited. A mysterious disease had the two regain their feelings and fall in love, causing tensions between them and their society until they attempt a journey towards freedom. The movie also stars Jacki Weaver, Tom Stokes and Aurora Perrineau among others.
Stars Hoult and Stewart were all praises to Doremus for the his distinctive approach so there would be chemistry between them as onscreen lovers, Variety reported. Hoult found complexities in portraying a character that is not meant to feel. The characters are alive, know everything human but do not feel, just like a baby who feels emotions but does not know how to process them.
The film played at last year's Venice International Film Festival and premiered at ArcLight Hollywood, Los Angeles on the night of July 7, Thursday. Stewart came in a dress by Jonathan Simkhai which was a see-through, intricate black lace attire. The 26-year-old actress sported a Justin Bieber-look hair style.
Hoult wore a dapper gray Dolce & Gabbana suit. He posed for photos with Stewart and both were later joined by co-stars Perrineau and Weaver, as well as director Doremus and music icon Courtney Love, according to Just Jared.
Stewart and Hoult could hardly keep a straight face as they giggled in front of photographers and chatted with Weaver and Doremus. They play star-crossed lovers in the film but they are more like BFFs in real life, grabbing dinner together and supporting each other at the movie premiere.
The upcoming Doremus movie is set to be out on July 15 with DirecTV and A24 acquiring rights in the United States. See the trailer of "Equals" below which is now available on DirecTV on demand.