The Untold Truth Of Chronicle

Debuting in theaters in February 2012, "Chronicle" was not a total revelation to moviegoers in terms of its camerawork. Told through the found-footage method of filming, "Chronicle" was one of many titles in this subgenre dominating movie theater screens in the early years of the 2010s. 

However, applying this method to a story of teenage superheroes, not to mention taking a grounded approach to chronicling the exploits of a tormented teenager, were novel elements. These unique details, as well as other positive attributes of the project, led to the film scoring critical and financial success once it was released. Though the found-footage craze dwindled out shortly after 2012, "Chronicle's" influence on broad pop culture continued in the years afterward and was felt on movies ranging from "Project Almanac" to the 2017 "Power Rangers" reboot.

Given the ubiquity of this production, it's easy to imagine that fans are aware of everything you could know about this directorial debut from Josh Trank. However, the untold truth of "Chronicle" is jam-packed with obscure and fascinating details that speak to the unique creative process that produced such a distinctive take on the superhero movie. Whether it's where Trank originally came up with this film's story, the casting process for "Chronicle," or the attempts to make a sequel, among many other elements, the untold truth of "Chronicle" is just as captivating as the motion picture itself.

Though "Chronicle" was a hit movie despite not being based on any previously existing intellectual property, that doesn't mean the project was devoid of influences from classic pieces of pop culture. Talking to Gizmodo, Josh Trank broke down some of the biggest influencers on "Chronicle," which turned out to be "Akira," "Carrie," and "The Fury." For Trank, the biggest projects that "Chronicle" was influenced by all shared the common denominator of emphasizing the perspectives and anguish of being a teenager.

The manifestations of other pieces of art in "Chronicle" also took on explicit shades in some cases, Trank noted in the Gizmodo interview. Trank was also influenced by how often the teenager version of himself and his friends would reference pop culture in the way that the protagonists of "Chronicle" would also nod towards famous pieces of pop culture when taking their superpowers out for a spin. 

However, Trank also emphasized that he made sure not to overdo these details out of fear of distracting from the standalone story he wanted to tell. By going down this route, "Chronicle" could maintain its original creative spirit while also paying tribute to classic pieces of pop culture that lent an empathetic lens to the perspective of troubled teens.

In the years since "Chronicle" premiered, two of its main actors have become familiar faces to movie fans. Dane DeHaan, after playing this film's antagonist, went on to portray Harry Osborne in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" before headlining other genre movies like "A Cure for Wellness" and "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets." And then there's Michael B. Jordan, who, just one year after "Chronicle," would send his career skyrocketing with an acclaimed lead role in "Fruitvale Station." From there, it was just a hop and a skip for Jordan to headline further beloved features ranging from "Creed" to "Black Panther."

In hindsight, casting future mega-stars like these two seems obvious. However, talking to Complex, Trank revealed that it was a lengthy process to nail down who they wanted to be in the cast. The guiding principle the director stuck with was wanting to subvert typical Hollywood portrayals of teenagers by grabbing people who seemed authentic. There was also a desire to eschew potential candidates for the three lead roles who were already famous as well as a hope to snag a trio of performers who bounced well off one another. Given the success the leads of "Chronicle" have experienced since its debut, it appears that Trank accomplished his mission and then some on this front.

Though today Michael B. Jordan has worked on a slew of high-profile film sets, "Chronicle" was one of his first opportunities to headline a motion picture. This meant that the world of film sets was something the actor was less familiar with. When it came to "Chronicle," this unfamiliarity was exacerbated by how this was a found-footage project, a subgenre with its own sense of rhythm during principal photography. It's easy to imagine an outcome where a fresher-faced performer like Jordan just got overwhelmed by everything that was going on.

Speaking with CinemaBlend, though, Jordan noted that the shooting for "Chronicle" was relatively easy simply due to the similarities in age between himself, his two co-stars, and director Josh Trank. As they were all in their mid-20s during filming, there was an immediate connection between these artists that created distinct energy that could carry them all through long shooting days and unusual filmmaking techniques. Especially memorable to Jordan was working with Trank since the actor noted that this was the first time he worked with a filmmaker who was in the same age bracket as himself. Getting to collaborate with these artists on "Chronicle" inspired such positive emotions in Jordan that the actor even went so far as to declare that the emphasis on younger artists on the project's set made the film feel like an ode to the next generation of genre movie talent.

You can call "Chronicle" a lot of things. A found-footage movie, a frightening take on a coming-of-age story, or a teenage drama. You could even call it not your cup of tea. But for Josh Trank, one thing he doesn't want to hear is that "Chronicle" is a straightforward superhero movie. While promoting this feature, he made it apparent that "Chronicle" was meant to be anything but just another movie where people get superpowers and fight crime.

"I don't think it's a superhero movie," Trank explained to GamesRadar. "I think it's a character-based drama about how superpowers would affect the lives of ordinary teenagers. Dramatically-inclined ordinary teenagers." 

That being said, Trank also commented that the film's finale was meant to be a homage to the extravagant and entertaining climaxes of traditional superhero films involving superpowered people knocking around buildings. Plus, the whole plot is kicked off a trio of teenagers wandering into a strange underground cave lined with crystals, which certainly sounds like a classic superhero origin story. As a result, the production is far from devoid of ingredients specific to superhero cinema. Still, if you ask the movie's own writer and director, "Chronicle" is countless other things before it's a superhero film.

Because "Chronicle" is so grounded in reality, it could be tempting for viewers to analyze its every frame and figure out the character motivations and underlying logic for every single moment of the project. Of course, given that this feature involves people who can fly or crush cars with their minds, adhering to traditional forms of logic here is a fool's errand. Plus, Josh Trank has gone on record saying that "Chronicle" isn't meant to be something where logical developments trump all other aspects of the story.

This includes the mysterious cave where the three leads of "Chronicle" get their superpowers. This location never gets a proper explanation in the film, which is by design. "It was very important in this film to not worry about the answer of what's in that cave," Trank explained to IndieWire. "The film is a first-person perspective, and the most important feeling is the emotional experience of what this would feel like, instead of searching for the science fiction movie answers." 

This meant that Trank eschewed standard elements on this subgenre, like government officials delivering exposition-laden dialogue providing detailed explanations for how superpowered elements work. The focus, for Trank, was on the central friendship between the three leads and exploring what happens to someone like Andrew the moment he gets extraordinary superpowers. Exploring these internal elements meant emotion had to be given precedent over logic when writing "Chronicle."

When a movie proves successful in Hollywood, only one development from there is certain: a sequel. Given how incredibly profitable the ultra-cheap "Chronicle" was, it's no surprise that 20th Century Fox immediately went to work on getting a follow-up assembled. Since original director Josh Trank was committed to "Fantastic Four" shortly after "Chronicle" launched in theaters, Max Landis was the sole screenwriter of this proposed follow-up. In a 2020 Polygon interview, Trank revealed that the proposed sequel would've focused on a new female lead who was obsessed with Alex Russell's character in the original "Chronicle," Matt, and eventually would've become an armored superhero in the vein of Iron Man.

Trank went on to explain that this proposed sequel was far removed from any of his original lofty ambitions for the first "Chronicle." He also noted that he'd done everything in his power to prevent this sequel from becoming a reality as he was worried about how badly such a project would turn out. It does feel fitting that a boldly original film like "Chronicle" would avoid getting saddled with a subpar sequel, but that could eventually change. 

In August 2021, producer John A. Davis revealed new, female-led incarnation of "Chronicle 2" was in active development. Whether or not this is the version of "Chronicle 2" that finally gets off the ground remains to be seen, but Trank will surely have some choice words to say about the project.