Calling all adventurers, thrill seekers, adrenaline junkies, climbing aficionados! For decades, people from all over the world struggling to find meaning in their life, hoping to find that special something, attempt to summit the highest point, and most dangerous place on Earth: Mount Everest.

Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt in 1996, “Everest” documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest blizzards ever encountered by mankind. A story of human endurance and ambition, it became the subject of best-selling books and documentaries, often with contradicting accounts of the events.

Producer Tim Bevan became interested in the story when he read Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air,” in 1997. Krakauer, a journalist that was part of the Adventure Consultants team, had first documented the events for an Outside magazine article he was working on. The film draws inspiration from Beck Weather’s “Left for Dead: My Journey Home From Everest,” transcript of the final satellite call between Rob Hall and his wife, and meetings and interviews with survivors and family members of the climbers.

This epic adventure comes to life thanks to the eclectic and talented ensemble of international stars led by Jason Clark, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthdington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, and Jake Gyllenhaal, under the direction of Baltasar Kormákur.

Kormákur wanted to make the film in the most authentic way possible, immersing himself in the story and realizing the challenges, both emotionally and physically. “Part of the need to tell the story is to experience it. I can’t experience what is like to be on the top of Everest, but you want to get as close to it as you possibly can,” he said in a recent press conference. “That’s the way we chose to make the film. Not making it easy on ourselves. Trying to find it, and trying to be in the elements,” he added.

“In the beginning, that sounds great, conceptually, and then there’s the reality of it. ‘Ok, now I’m freezing. I’m kind of done with this whole idea.’ That’s what [Baltasar] was looking for. As a director, he did amazing things in being able to keep our morale up month after month,” Brolin said. The action-adventure was shot at high elevation on the trek to Everest in Nepal, in the Italian Alps, and at Cinecitta Studios in Rome and Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom.

Not only did the actors had to face the elements as climbers, but they had to get into a climbers mind set, and find the emotional connection as well. With events so tragic but inspiring at the same time, it’s all about finding a balance and celebrating the spirit of adventure and determination in these individuals. “It’s a massive journey of people dying, and wanting to live in extraordinarily inhospitable places, and understanding what it is to want to live. It’ll stay with me forever,” said Clark. To which Gyllenhaal adds, “finding the essence of who these people were, that was the most important thing.” 

Let’s not forget that Everest in itself is the main character in this film, and visually this films puts you in it in a way you could’ve never imagined. Mount Everest is a place of admiration and respect, not only for the people who conquered their dream, but also for the people who died trying.

Don’t miss “Everest” on IMAX 3D in theaters nationwide, September 18.