This Space Intentionally Left
Un-blown-up

Whether the expiration of the Mayan calendar in 2012 signifies the end of the real world or not, Hollywood’s effects wizards promise earthshattering violence will fill the screens wherever Roland Emmerich’s 2012 is showing.

Cultural icons will be vividly destroyed by the writhing terrestrial crust, the Sistine Chapel wrecked and the outstretched arms of Rio de Janeiro’s Jesus statue dismembered. In fact, I’m surprised to read that Emmerich blows up the White House again, as he did in Independence Day. Neither national pride nor anything sacred will be spared — oh, except just one thing:

For “2012,” Emmerich set his sights on destroying the some biggest landmarks around the world, from Rome to Rio. But there’s one place that Emmerich wanted to demolish but didn’t: the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure located in the center of Mecca. It’s the focus of prayers and the site of the Hajj, the biggest, most important pilgrimage in Islam.

“Well, I wanted to do that, I have to admit,” the filmmaker told scifiwire.com. “But my co-writer Harald [Kloser] said, ‘I will not have a fatwa on my head because of a movie.’ And he was right.”

You are one ballsy guy, Roland.

[Thanks to David Klaus for the link.]