"Taking Jules Verne's well-known novel and developing it into an updated story with new characters, using modern technology, was a tremendously exciting opportunity," says Eric Brevig, who makes his feature directorial debut with "Journey to the Center of the Earth." "My goal with this film was to capture the spirit of adventure, discovery and the belief that anything is possible."

"I think certain stories are timeless, and the tale of three unlikely explorers helping each other along this seemingly impossible voyage is a great example," says producer Charlotte Huggins. "The idea that you can do what others only dream of doing is a concept people have not only written about, but also attempted since the beginning of human civilization."

Producer Beau Flynn remarks, "Our job as filmmakers is to transport audiences to another world. We want moviegoers to lose themselves in the adventure. It was also important to us that we capture a certain tone for the film where the characters are very real and accessible, but the story never takes itself too seriously."

The appeal of refreshing a classic Jules Verne tale with cutting-edge filmmaking drew Brendan Fraser to the project in the leading role and as an executive producer. "When I go to the movies, I want to be taken away," says Fraser. "The story's premise combined with an original script that is full of action, comedy and adventure from start to finish got my attention right away."

The screenplay for "Journey to the Center of the Earth," written by Michael Weiss and Jennifer Flackett & Mark Levin, revolves around scientist Trevor Anderson, his nephew Sean and their Icelandic mountain guide Hannah; together, the trio stumble upon a volcanic passage that sends them plummeting to the center of the Earth. Landing in a deep crystal blue lagoon thousands of miles beneath the Earth's surface, they discover an extraordinary world of lush jungles and prehistoric creatures as described in Jules Verne's novel. Taking in the staggering sights and sounds of this unchartered land, they soon learn that it is fraught with peril and must rely on each other to find a way home.

Brendan Fraser plays Trevor Anderson, an American college professor and scientist in the field of plate tectonics, a study of geology that links movements of the Earth's crust with earthquakes, volcanoes and weather. Together with his brother Max, Trevor was on the path to a geological research breakthrough. But then Max disappeared on a field expedition in Iceland. "Since then, Trevor has had little luck advancing his research on his own, and now the lab is on the verge of being shut down by the university," says Fraser.

As if he doesn't have enough problems, Trevor gets a surprise visit from Max's teenage son, Sean, who is reluctantly spending a week with his uncle.

"With Sean's sudden arrival, Trevor is suddenly thrust into a dynamic where he feels the pressure to assume a paternal role, but Trevor doesn't really understand how to deal with kids, even though he is a college professor," Fraser notes. "He can deal with college kids because they don't listen to him in his lectures anyway."

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