John Travolta has long wanted to make the film of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's sci- fi novel 'Battlefield Earth'. Well now he has. But will it be a subtle recruiting call for the cult, which Travolta is a prominent member of? Sure it's only a sci-fi movie. But it's also based on a book by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. It also stars the religion's most famous supporter John Travolta.

So what is 'Battlefield Earth' all about? Is it really just another Earthlings-fight-aliens sc-fi action film, or is there more to it?
The film's co-producer Jonathan Krane maintains the film has nothing to do with Scientology. "It's like 'Pulp Fiction' in the year 3000," he says, alluding to Quentin Tarantino's hit in the early 90s that launched Travolta's comeback.
"I've never even dealt with or talked to the church (of Scientology) on this," says Krane. "This is an action-adventure, science fiction story." It's certainly Travolta as we've never seen him before. He gets heavily made-up to play a nine-foot tall alien leader named Terl, complete with amber eyes and claws for hands. Forget the chunky and smooth superstar in films like 'Get Shorty' and 'A Civil Action'.This time it's a major get-up, including dreadlocks and very impressive eyebrows. One description is he looks like Bigfoot gone Rastafarian.
'Battlefield Earth' is a project that Travolta has long wanted to make. Hubbard was a sci-fi writer before he set up the Church of Scientology. There were some attempts to make the film in the early 80s with Ken Annakin ('The Longest Day') set to direct. There was even an elaborate photoshoot featuring a space monster mockup next to the Hollywood sign in 1984. But it got lost in what's called development hell.
Because of the association with the controversial Hubbard, it has always needed someone with behind-the-scenes power who could convince the major studios to take a chance. That didn't happen until the mid-90s when Travolta's resurgent stardom, coupled with his following of Hubbard's ideas, made him the ideal candidate. So he managed to get the backing of Franchise Films and Warner Bros. for the two-hour $80 million epic.
The 1982 book itself is a 1400 page opus to intergalactic warfare. It's set in the year 3000 when the Earth is ruled by tall, ruthless aliens, who enslave the surviving humans so they can mine the planet's rich resources. It has sold in excess of four million copies and been translated into 12 languages, making it Hubbard's most popular sci-fi novel.
The aliens are called Psychlos and Terl lords over a mining operation which amongst other things, feeds the enslaved humans a diet of raw rats. The swashbuckling hero of the story is a renegade human named Jonnie Tyler, who comes down from his mountain hideout and sets about liberating the unfortunate humans from their merciless overlords.
The film uses the very latest digital special effects, and production designer Patrick Tatopoulos ('Godzilla') says it was a very demanding shoot.
"It's the toughest movie I've ever worked on. It's also the first time I've been used fully on costume, sets and creature. I believe it's the first time one person has designed every aspect of a movie."
Tyler is played by relative newcomer Barry Pepper, who played the cool-headed sniper in 'Saving Private Ryan'. This is considered to be the 30-year-old Canadian's breakthrough lead role after good supporting turns in the likes of 'Enemy of the State', 'Green Mile' and 'Saving Private Ryan'.
Others in the cast include a cameo by Travolta's wife Kelly Preston, who'll play one of the Psychlos called Chirck, with the bonus of a very long tongue. "I have a huge head and I walk on these stilt-like legs," she explains.
Joining Travolta and Preston as another alien monster named Ker is African American star Forest Whitaker ('Ghost Dog'). Richard Tyson ('There's Something About Mary') will play a character called Robert the Fox. It's directed by Roger Christian, a protege of George Lucas, who was second unit director on 'Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace'. Shooting began under considerable secrecy in July last year on sets in Hollywood and primary production wrapped at the end of September. Because of the sprawling nature of the story, studio facilities in Los Angeles and locations in Canada have been used, including taking over part of a military base in Montreal.
Had the film been made 10 years ago a slimmer and more athletic Travolta could certainly have played Tyler. But the middle-aged star says while there was a time he wanted to play Tyer, he's now the wrong shape and age to play the rebel hero.
"Imagine me, as fat as I am, running around with guns in that role. I'm too old," he admits.
Instead he plays the leading alien, which amongst other things involved sometimes walking on stilts in full costume, wearing hand and finger extensions and donning uncomfortable headgear.
"He has this extended head, talons and long hair, but you'll still recognize me."
Having to get about in all this getup was not always easy on set. One report says that during filming Travolta tripped up and landed on his back. Playing the heavy is not an issue with the likeable actor, who kickstarted his career playing a hitman in 'Pulp Fiction'. "I think audiences like to see me switch. Cagney and Bogart did it."
Hubbard had been writing science fiction books since the 30s (he died mysteriously in hiding in 1986) and Travolta says it's long overdue the highly successful sci-fi writer had a film made of one of his works. "Hubbard has been writing sci-fi fanatasy and pulp since 1937, and it's high time it was done."
"We've been trying to make 'Battlefield Earth' for 10 years and I view getting this made as the pinnacle of using my power in Hollywood for something'" says the actor and producer.
"I now have the clout to get something done that a studio might not normally do. If we can't do the things we want to do, what good is that power?" The film basically uses the first 500 pages of the book, which leaves open the opportunity to do a sequel to finish the story if the first one is a boxoffice success. "Theoretically we can get it completed in two films," says Travolta.
Harking back to what George Lucas did with completing the start of the 'Star Wars' series, there could well be a prequel to 'Battlefield Earth'. Writer Algis Budry has been commissioned to write a prequel novel which will take place a thousand years before 'Battlefield Earth' and will set the stage for the takeover of the Earth by aliens. "It'll take place with the first landings of the Psychlos on Earth."
"This is much likelier to become a film," says the writer. "My assignment is to write the novel, the script writing will be done by somebody else." The Hollywood Reporter says that screenwriter Cory Mandell is already committed to do the script for the second 'Battlefield Earth' film, with Travolta and Pepper set to return as well. If it gets the go-ahead it's expected to deal with the last 614 pages of the book. Expected release date is 2002, which would put it between rival 'Star Wars' films.
To do the film the actor had to juggle his schedule, putting off what was to be his first singing role since 'Grease'. In 'Standing Room Only' Travolta was to play the cronner Jimmy Roselli, a less famous product of Hoboken, the New York borough that produced Frank Sinatra. Instead next up Travolta joins Lisa Kudrow in Nora Ephron's dark comedy 'Numbers' about a pair of television state employees who rig the state lottery draw.
As for suggestions that 'Battlefield Earth' is really a disguised way of subtlely getting across the Scientology message, Travolta is adament there's no link.
"The truth of why I'm doing it is because it's a great piece of science fiction. This is not about L Ron Hubbard. I'm very interested in Scientology, but that's personal. This is different."
However it doesn't take much to see the link. The basic premise of Scientology is that humans are under the control of aliens, whose "psychs" put implants in humans that are responsible for violence and crime. By undertaking Scientology courses and practices a human can "clear" themselves of these. At the very top level of Scientology, which Travolta has reportedly achieved, is a mysterious world of interspace travel and encounters with aliens.
Travolta is said to have gone beyond the state of "clear", which the actor describes as "cleansed of unwanted feelings and mental images". He is now reportedly identified as an Operating Thetan, a state which alludes to powers of heightened awareness.
A prominent member of Scientology's high profile Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles, Travolta got involved with the religion when he was a struggling young actor in Hollywood in the late 70s. Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley are other prominent celebrity Scientologists.
"Hubbard changed the way I viewed my life completely and all for the good," says Travolta. "I know Scientology helped me keep my head and stay out of trouble." He also credits the religion for his screen success. "Scientology put me in the big time."
One spin-off from 'Battlefield Earth' is expected to be merchandising of such toys linked to the film as Strike Jets, Psychoblasters and dolls of Travolta's Terl. This doll will include voice snippets from the films of Travolta saying things like "exterminate all man animals at will" and "ratbastard".
There are also high hopes the film will stimulate further sales of the original book. Two million copies of the softcover version are to be released to coincide with the opening of the film. Travolta says 'Battlefield Earth', originally published as 'Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000', was one of the most popular books to be published in the 20th Century and it has themes about exploitation of resources and suppression which are as relevant as ever.
"It's kind of about what's happening on Earth. You've got your criminal elements, your good guys, the search for gold. You're going to see some parallels."

"MIKE BELL/PLANET SYNDICATION".