Glasgow animation and VFX studio Revenant, whose work and news we track here, just dropped us the trailer for The Pony Express, an atmospheric sci-fi feature currently in development with funding from Screen Scotland.

Kev McCrae, founder/CD at Revenant: “As we enter an era thirsty for original stories, The Pony Express’ development could strike a chord for audiences and entertainment studios alike who are searching for fresh ideas and worlds to get lost in.
 

“Ultimately, the trailer underlines how the studio approaches AI ethically, leveraging it to streamline processes where it adds value, without ever replacing core creative craftsmanship.”

 
“The new trailer reveals key characters and draws viewers into a darkly beautiful planet. It was developed from a hybrid of Revenant’s own animations (made and rendered in Houdini), concept art, and subtle motion (with MidJourney used for minor movement) to quickly bring the world and characters to life as a tease of what the film could become.

“The footage was then upscaled using HitPaw before the team layered in grain, halation, FX, grading, music, and sound design. The VO was crafted using ElevenLabs.

“Ultimately, the trailer underlines how the studio approaches AI ethically, leveraging it to streamline processes where it adds value, without ever replacing core creative craftsmanship. The final film will use Unreal Engine, Maya, Houdini, and Nuke.”
 
 

 
Production: Revenant
Team: Kev McCrae, Craig Simmers, Ross Sneddon, Luke Angus, Craig Reid