Nacho Vigalondo knew that he had a challenge on his hands when he was making the Anne Hathaway sci-fi thriller “Colossal.”
“You’re dealing with real-life elements like domestic abuse, for example, and toxic relationships,” writer-director Vigalondo told TheWrap’s Steve Pond at Sundance on Saturday. “And, at the same time, you’re making a lot of jokes and making the effects.”
The film, which screened this week at the Sundance Film Festival, stars Hathaway as a woman who discovers that severe catastrophic events involving a Godzilla-like creature are somehow connected to the mental breakdown from which she’s suffering.
“I’m really happy about how the movie is being received,” Vigalondo said. “Because if the movie wasn’t talking properly about this stuff, they would be throwing stones at my head right now.”
Nahikari Ipiña, Nicolas Chartier, Zev Foreman, Russell Levine, Dominic Rustam and Shawn Williamson produced “Colossal,” while executive producers include Jonathan Deckter, Garrett Basch, Justin Bursch, Chris Lytton, Lee Jea Woo and Vigalondo.
Last May, Voltage Pictures, the production house behind the film, was sued by Toho, the Japanese production company that created “Godzilla.” They claimed that the company used copyrighted images of the famous movie monster to sell “Colossal.” A settlement was reached between the two parties.
The film is due to be released this year by the new indie distributor founded by Radius co-founder Tom Quinn and Alamo Drafthouse owner Tim League.
Charlize Theron, John Legend and Scene at Sundance Women's March (Photos)
Protesters attend the Women's March Saturday in Park City, Utah, in the midst of the Sundance Film Festival.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Chelsea Handler and Maria Bello spoke at the Women's March in Park City, Utah, on Saturday.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
John Legend was among the protesters at the Women's March in Park City.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Charlize Theron joined the protesters at the Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters march down Main Street for the Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Sundance Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Filmmaker Peter Bratt and his actor brother Benjamin Bratt address the crowd at the Women's March in Park City.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
A young protester at the Women's March in Park City.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Maria Bello at the Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Aisha Tyler speaks at the Sundance version of the Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Connie Britton rallies the crowd at the Women's March in Park City.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Sundance Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
A protester at the Sundance Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Charlize Theron snaps a selfie at the Sundance Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Women's March in Park City.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Sundance Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Sundance Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Sundance Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
A protester at the Sundance Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Women's March in Park City, Utah.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
The scene at the Sundance Women's March.
Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
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Stars joined hundreds of anti-Trump protesters Saturday on Main Street in Park City, Utah
Protesters attend the Women's March Saturday in Park City, Utah, in the midst of the Sundance Film Festival.