Studios have been eagerly dipping into the pool of young adult book adaptations, following the runaway success of Harry Potter and Twilight. However, in proportion to every film that hits it big (The Hunger Games), there seem to be a handful that only manage mixed business (Percy Jackson, The Spiderwick Chronicles) or fizzle out immediately on impact (The Seeker: The Dark is Rising).
So that begs the question: what will the turnout be for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (which is based on the first installment in author Cassandra Clare’s best-selling fantasy/adventure series)? Well, the first trailer for the film launches in theaters this Friday with the Twilight Saga finale Breaking Dawn – Part 2, but you can check out the theatrical promo online now (along with the official poster).
Mortal Instruments revolves around Clary Fray (Lily Collins, Mirror Mirror), an ordinary teenager living in modern New York City, who discovers the truth about her lineage after her mother (Lena Headey, Game of Thrones) mysteriously vanishes: namely, that she is a descendant of the Shadowhunters, a legion of half-angel warriors who (in secret) protect humanity from the forces of darkness. Soon thereafter, young Clary begins her training as a demon-destroyer, with assistance from Hodge Starkweather (Jared Harris, Mad Men) – who is the elder caretaker at the Shadowhunter Institute - and the handsome-but-deadly warrior Jace Wayland (Jamie Cambell Bower, Camelot).
As you undoubtedly picked up from the synopsis and trailer, Mortal Instruments (in essence) uses the same fantasy/coming-of-age formula as the Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and The Dark Is Rising series - but with a female, rather than male, teen protagonist. In terms of visual sophistication, Mortal Instruments does seem to be a slight improvement on the first Percy Jackson and first couple of Harry Potter films – though, it’s far behind latter installments in the Potter series. Bear in mind, it’s impossible to judge fully right now, as production quite literally wrapped up a matter of days ago (hence, there are no CGI shots in the trailer).
Lily Collins in ‘The Mortal Instruments’
Overall, the cast for Mortal Instruments is pretty solid, thanks to the involvement of people such as Headey and Harris; even the youngster Collins and Bower have done decent (if not exactly remarkable) work so far in their careers. Meanwhile, the script was penned by I. Marlene King (Pretty Little Liars) and Jessica Postigo (the upcoming 3D animated Tarzan), with directing duties handled by Harald Zwart (Agent Cody Banks, The Karate Kid); that’s not the most inspiring resume, for sure, so we’ll have to wait and see how the final film turns out.
If nothing else, Mortal Instruments fans should be pleased that the original version of this project ultimately fell apart – that is, one where the first three installments in Clare’s original series would’ve been compressed into a single film, with the helming duties given to Scott Charles Stewart (Legion, Priest). Zwart’s adaptation, by comparison, stands to be both better and more faithful.
Check out the official poster for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones below:
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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones opens in U.S. theaters on August 23rd, 2013.
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The last couple of seconds in that trailer..seems to be the end fight of the Movie !
Feels like its another one of those trailers who give away the whole Movie !
Like Prometheus did as well ! I hate trailers like these !
Otherwise feels better as Twilight and co ! Lets see !
Only someone who read the book would know that. never read it my girlfriend loves it. I was worried I’d be dragged to another twilight. this trailer feels more like Harry potter to me. ill take it.
I read the books about two or three years ago, I enjoyed them quite a bit. The only real thing it has in common with Twilight is the romance between the two main characters, but it’s not as bad in this series.
It looks like Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief or The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Early teens and adolescent type stuff.
oh so does incest and yaoi shipping at the end of the movie sounds like early adolescent stuff.
Unable for my location? Racists basterds.
Movies that are not sequels should never have two titles. It smacks of self importance. Worse, WE DON’T FRICKIN KNOW WHAT THE HELL IT IS! This seems to be pretty much Buffy comes to the big screen, with about the same level of FX. Smartly done trailer though.
Buffy with better effects was my first thought also. But I could go for some new Buffy. Doubt if it will be as good without Whedon and Geller but we’ll see.
I’m a fan of the first three books and I found it reminiscent of Buffy in terms of sarcastic tone, snarky characters and pop culture references but that’s a commendation right
The movie is based on the first novel in a series made up of several books. Mortal Instruments is the series title, City of Bones is the title of the first novel. Know what you’re talking about before you criticize.
Movie producers have learned a thing or two from the Twilight series: sell the action.
I’ll probably read the books now, but I’m not overly excited right now, since it’s not even being released until August (right?)
This movie looks like a complete ripoff of Bleach. Come on the invisible supernatural person that only the chosen one can see? The magical sword? An overlapping supernatural world where a war is taking place?
I disagree. If you read the book, you’ll know. It’s not even close to Bleach.
no. It’s totally different from that
Bleach? D: Shadowhunters are demons slayers,not shinigami ._. It’s totally different! Are you shure you’ve read Bleach,aren’t you? It’s not that just because you know Bleach and you’ve read it, every other fantasy book is a ripoff of it. Read TMI before saying such a weird thing.
Trust me,I’ve read both of them and they have nothing in common
And sorry for bad english,it’s not my native language!
i have never heard of tattoos being put into soulrippers skin at the age of ten. i’ve read bleach and tmi so i know
Lilly collins.. her eyebrows are to distracting.
I thought it was just me!
I’m not familiar with the series of novels, but Lena Headey’s involvement might make this worth a rental. I was a bit surprised to see Jonathan Rhys Myers in this too.
I can’t wait for the movie!!!I love the trailer and the books!They are amazing and the only thing this movie and Buffy have in common are demons.The Mortal Instruments are soooooo much better than Buffy!And no,the fight from the last seconds isn’t the end fight of the movie,it’s just the second.I assure you this movie is full of secrets and mysteries,the fact that Clary(the redhead,for those who don’t know)is a shadowhunter is just one of the interesting things,wait till you’ll see who’s Jace(the blonde one).Go and see it!I promise it’ll be worth your time
Woah woah woah hold on there cowboy. TMI is good but it ain’t better than Buffy.
God, those people annoy me that say ‘hunger games (etc) is the best book I’ve ever read.’
Please…no. It’s good and enjoyable but don’t be delusional.
never compare a book series to a tv series. it’s like comparing oreo to salad.
I was a little worried about this Jace, but not anymore. He looked good
As for valentine, no white blonde hair?! Oh well, looks really hot. Can’t wait 
Looks like a cross between Harry Potter (the whole living among the mundanes thing) and the TV series Grimm or Buffy (or a plethora of other monster hunter shows). Can’t say this it would be worthy of a movie ticket price but I may Redbox it.
I just hope they don’t mess this movie up like they did with Percy Jackson. I mean, don’t get me wrong: as a stand-alone movie, Percy Jackson was amazing, but the fact that it came from a book which is almost nothing like the movie just ruined it. I just really want City of Bones to be more like the book.
I loooove Mortal instruments city of bones the best books ever!! i can, t wait to se the movie!
I loove the the mortal instruments