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'{{short description|2021 Russian action film}} {{distinguish|Major Grom|Major Grom (2017 film)}} {{use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox film | name = Major Grom: Plague Doctor | image = Major Grom- Plague Doctor poster.jpg | alt = | caption = English-language theatrical release poster | director = Oleg Trofim | producer = {{Plainlist| * Artyom Gabrelyanov ([[:ru:Габрелянов, Артём Арамович|ru]]) * Michael Kitaev * Olga Filipuk * Roman Kotkov * Evgeniy Eronin }} | writer = {{Plainlist| * Artyom Gabrelyanov * Roman Kotkov * Evgeniy Eronin * Vladimir Besedin * Aleksandr Kim * Valentina Tronova * Nikolay Titov }} | based_on = {{Based on|''[[Major Grom]]''|Artyom Gabrelyanov|Evgeny Fedotov}} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Tikhon Zhiznevsky * Lyubov Aksyonova * [[Aleksei Maklakov]] * Aleksandr Seteykin * Sergei Goroshko * Dmitry Chebotaryov * Mikhail Evlanov * Oleg Chugunov }} | music = Roman Seliverstov | cinematography = Maxim Zhukov | editing = {{Plainlist| * Yuriy Karikh * Aleksandr Puzyryov }} | studio = {{Plainlist| * [[Bubble Studios]] * [[KinoPoisk|KinoPoisk HD]] }} | distributor = {{plainlist | * [[The Walt Disney Company CIS|Walt Disney Studios]] * [[Netflix]] (International) }} | released = {{Film date|2021|04|01|[[Russia]]|ref1=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/1109271/ |title=Premiere in Russia |language=Russian |work=[[KinoPoisk]]}}</ref>}} | runtime = 137 minutes | country = Russia | language = {{plainlist | * Russian * English }} | budget = {{plainlist| * {{RUB}}640 million }} | gross = {{plainlist| * {{RUB}}316.8 million<ref>[https://ekinobilet.fond-kino.ru/films/detail/111004121/ Box Office], [[Russian Cinema Fund]]'s Analytics (RCFA)</ref> * $4.4 million (Worldwide)<ref name=BOM>{{cite BOM|id=7601480 |title=Major Grom: Plague Doctor (2021) |accessdate=May 5, 2021}}</ref> }} | border = }} '''''Major Grom: Plague Doctor''''' ({{lang-ru|Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор|Mayor Grom: Chumnoy Doktor}}) is a 2021 Russian action film directed by Oleg Trofim, based on the comic book series of the [[Major Grom|same name]] by the Russian publisher [[Bubble Comics]], created by Artyom Gabrelyanov.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/06/a-detective-hunts-a-costumed-vigilante-in-major-grom-plague-doctor-trailer/ |title=A detective hunts a costumed vigilante in Major Grom: Plague Doctor trailer |last=Ouellette |first=Jennifer |date=2020-05-06 |work=[[Ars Technica]] |accessdate=2021-03-28}}</ref> It is the second film adapted from Bubble Comics, as well as the first [[feature film|feature-length film]] based on a Russian comic.<ref name="meshcheryakova">{{cite news|last=Meshcheryakova |first=Olga |title=Вышел тизер первого фильма по российским комиксам |trans-title=Teaser of the first film based on Russian comics was released |url=https://rg.ru/2017/10/01/na-comic-con-pokazali-tizer-pervogo-filma-po-rossijskim-komiksam.html |accessdate=2017-10-01 |work=[[Russian Gazette]] |date=2017-10-01}}</ref> Prior to that, the studio had released the [[short film]] ''[[Major Grom (2017 film)|Major Grom]]''.<ref name="kinobusiness">{{cite web|url=http://www.kinobusiness.com/interview/v-blizhayshie-gody-o-kinovselennoy-bubble-zagovoryat-vo-vsem-mire-poverte/ |title=В ближайшие годы о киновселенной BUBBLE заговорят во всем мире, поверьте! |trans-title=In the coming years, the BUBBLE cinematic universe will be talked about all over the world, believe me! |publisher=Kinobusiness.com |date=2016-10-27 |accessdate=2017-03-12}}</ref> It stars Tikhon Zhiznevsky in the lead role, alongside Lyubov Aksyonova, [[Aleksei Maklakov]], Aleksandr Seteykin, Sergei Goroshko, and Dmitry Chebotaryov. The film is set in [[Saint Petersburg]] and tells the story of police major Igor Grom, an honest and skilled cop with unconventional methods, who pursues a [[vigilante]] murderer in the mask of a [[plague doctor]]. A teaser for the film was first screened on 30 September 2017 at the [[IgroMir#2017|IgroMir]] / [[Comic-Con Russia]] 2017,<ref name="meshcheryakova"/> after which the project faced difficulties in production for some time—the team was disbanded and reassembled, and the concept of the film was redone from scratch. Three years later, a full-fledged trailer was presented at the Comic Con Russia 2020, with a tentative release date.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ammosov, Alexander |title="Майор Гром" выйдет в прокат в апреле 2021 года |trans-title=''Major Grom'' will be released in April 2021 |url=https://www.igromania.ru/news/98510/Mayor_Grom_vyydet_v_prokat_v_aprele_2021_goda.html |publisher=[[Igromania]] |date=2020-10-04 |accessdate=2020-10-04 |lang=ru}}</ref><ref name="tass_1apr">{{cite news |title=Премьеру российского фильма "Майор Гром" перенесли на 1 апреля |trans-title=Premiere of the Russian film ''Major Grom'' was postponed to April 1, 2021 |url=https://tass.ru/kultura/10471597 |accessdate=2021-02-25 |work=[[TASS]] |date=2021-01-15}}</ref> ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' had its premiere on 25 March 2021 in St. Petersburg. The online premiere took place on 5 May 2021 on [[KinoPoisk|KinoPoisk HD]] and [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Bashurina |first=Evgeniya |title=Netflix купил российский фильм "Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор" |trans-title=Netflix bought Russian film ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' |url=https://www.forbes.ru/newsroom/forbeslife/428651-netflix-kupil-rossiyskiy-film-mayor-grom-chumnoy-doktor |accessdate=2021-05-05 |work=[[Forbes (Russia)|Forbes]] |date=2021-05-05}}</ref><ref name="Online">{{cite web|url=https://rg.ru/2021/05/06/film-major-grom-chumnoj-doktor-vyshel-na-netflix-i-kinopoiske-odnovremenno.html |title=Фильм "Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор" вышел на Netflix и КиноПоиске одновременно |trans-title=The movie ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' was released on Netflix and KinoPoisk simultaneously |first=Susanna |last=Alperina |publisher=[[Russian Gazette]] |date=2021-05-06 |accessdate=2021-05-08}}</ref> ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' was generally assessed by critics moderately positively: the general high quality of the work was noted, but at the same time, it was scolded for the clichéd and unoriginal plot. Some observers have claimed that the film aims a reproachful message towards the [[Opposition to Vladimir Putin in Russia|Russian opposition]] and praise for the police,<ref>{{cite web|last=Gimashev |first=Linar |title=Обзор фильма "Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор". Герои против оппозиции |trans-title=Review of the film ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor''. Heroes against oppositionm |url=https://pluggedin.ru/openreview/obzor-filyma-mayor-grom:-chumnoy-doktor-geroi-protiv-oppozicii-498 |publisher=PluggedIn |date=2021-03-31 |lang=ru}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gugnin |first=Efim |title=Лёд под ногами "Майора Грома": Можем ли мы смотреть кино в отрыве от политики? |trans-title=Ice under the feet of ''Major Grom'': Can we watch movies in isolation from politics? |url=https://www.film.ru/articles/led-pod-nogami-mayora-groma-mozhem-li-my-smotret-kino-v-otryve-ot-politiki |publisher=[[Film.ru]] |date=2021-04-12 |lang=ru}}</ref> but not all reviewers agreed with this opinion;<ref name="MirF">{{cite web|last=Peklo |first=Yevgeny |title="Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор": Петербург как русский Готэм |trans-title=''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'': Petersburg as Russian Gotham |url=https://www.mirf.ru/kino/major-grom-chumnoj-doktor/ |publisher=[[Mir Fantastiki|World of Speculative Fiction]] |date=2021-03-31 |lang=ru}}</ref><ref name="Igromania">{{cite web|last=Shepelev |first=Dmitry |title=Обзор фильма "Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор". Бэтмент навсегда |trans-title=Review of the film ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor''. Batment Forever |url=https://www.igromania.ru/article/31635/Obzor_filma_Mayor_Grom_Chumnoy_Doktor._Byetment_navsegda.html |publisher=[[Igromania]] |date=2021-04-04 |lang=ru}}</ref> the authors themselves have denied these allegations in several interviews.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kataev |first=Denis |title="Безусловно, есть политический контекст". Режиссёр "Майора Грома" объясняет, почему Навальный — не Чумной Доктор, Дуров — прототип злодея, а протест все обострил |trans-title="There is definitely a political context". The director of ''Major Grom'' explains why Navalny is not the Plague Doctor, Pavel Durov is the prototype of the villain, and the protest aggravated everything |url=https://tvrain.ru/teleshow/vechernee_shou/major_grom-528398/ |publisher=[[Dozhd]] |date=2021-04-18 |lang=ru}}</ref> The film failed at the box office, collecting only 328 million rubles in the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]], with a budget of 640 million rubles,<ref name="КМ">{{cite web|title=МАЙОР ГРОМ: ЧУМНОЙ ДОКТОР: кассовые сборы, о фильме |trans-title=''MAJOR GROM: PLAGUE DOCTOR'': box office, about the film |url=https://www.kinometro.ru/release/card/id/39947|website=Film Distributor Bulletin |accessdate=2021-04-16 |lang=ru}}</ref> but it proved popular on Netflix and Kinopoisk HD.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mosenko |first=Larisa |title="Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор" возглавил список самых популярных фильмов Netflix в России |trans-title=''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' tops the list of the most watched Netflix films in Russia |url=https://kg-portal.ru/comments/96469-major-grom-chumnoj-doktor-vozglavil-spisok-samyh-populjarnyh-filmov-netflix-v-rossii/|website=kg-portal.ru |date=2021-05-09 |lang=ru}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ammosov |first=Alexander |title="Майор Гром" возглавил топ просмотров "КиноПоиск HD" в мае |trans-title=''Major Grom'' topped the top views of "KinoPoisk HD" in May |url=https://www.igromania.ru/news/105680/Mayor_Grom_vozglavil_top_prosmotrov_KinoPoisk_HD_v_mae.html|publisher=[[Igromania]]|date=2021-06-03|lang=ru}}</ref> ==Plot== [[Saint Petersburg]] police [[Major Grom#Major Igor Grom|major Igor Grom]] is chasing three bank robbers dressed in red sports suits and disguised as villainous [[ice hockey|hockey]] players from the popular Soviet cartoon ''[[:ru:Шайбу! Шайбу! (мультфильм)|Puck! Puck!]]''<ref name="Ria2">{{Cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20210404/kino-1603794177.html|title=Зачем России супергерои? Смотрим фильм "Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор"|author=Беликов, Егор|website=[[РИА Новости]]|date=2021-04-04|access-date=2021-04-23}}</ref> He catches them, while causing significant property damage, and gets reprimanded by his superior, colonel General Fedor Prokopenko. Soon after, the trial of "rich boy" Kirill Grechkin begins; he is accused of fatally hitting a girl with his car. Despite the evidence against him, Grechkin is acquitted and the brother of the deceased, Lyosha Makarov, suspects the court of corruption. IT millionaire Sergei Razumovsky, founder of the social network Vmeste, and his friend Oleg Volkov, who grew up in the same orphanage as the deceased girl, are also outraged by the court's decision. At the same time, videos of the Plague Doctor appear on the internet—an avenger in a mask and a combat suit, armed with bombs and flamethrowers, who promises to "cleanse" the city of scoundrels. The Doctor burns Kirill Grechkin to death in his car. After the murder, Oleg comes to Razumovsky and confesses that he was the Doctor. Razumovsky is upset by this, but hesitates to turn his friend in to the authorities. Grom, who witnessed the murder, is trying to investigate it and find the Doctor, who is now considered by many to be a hero. [[Federal Security Service|FSB]] officer Evgeny Strelkov, who arrives from Moscow to capture the Doctor, removes the major from the case. Instead, Grom and his new trainee, Dima Dubin, are sent to deal with the theft of twelve refrigerators. However, contrary to their official assignment, the two continue to investigate the Doctor's case, having received a tip from Grom's informant and unsuccessfully trying to knock information out of people associated with the criminal underworld. In the meantime, Grom saves a young woman from thugs, but she turns out to be journalist and blogger Yulia Pchyolkina, who staged the attack in order to get close to Grom and obtain information about the Plague Doctor case for her blog. Meanwhile, the Doctor accumulates new victims: the head of a bank that defrauded depositors and the owner of a polluting landfill, along with the latter's entire family. Dubin puts forward the theory that the next appearance of the Doctor should be expected at the opening of a casino, where all of St. Petersburg "cream of society" will gather. Grom infiltrates the opening party, where he meets Pchyolkina and Razumovsky. Instead of the real Doctor, however, only his followers appear, wanting to rob the rich. Sergei Razumovsky tries to prevent the violence and dissuade them with money, but a fight ensues, in which Grom and a number of FSB officers capture the bandits. Grom is subsequently forced to resign from the police by Strelkov. Despite his dismissal, he continues his investigation and learns about Razumovsky's childhood in the orphanage, and that he used to draw birds that looked like the Doctor's mask. Back at the casino, Pchyolkina had told Grom about Razumovsky's contract with Holt International, a company engaged in high-tech weapons development. It was Holt International that created the Plague Doctor's costume and equipment. Grom directly accuses Razumovsky of being the Plague Doctor. By this point, Sergei has realized that the accusation is true: "Oleg" was his [[Dissociative identity disorder|secondary personality]] (Grom points out that according to official documents, the real Oleg Volkov died in the [[Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war|war in Syria]] a year before). His dark side takes over; he knocks Grom out with a blow to the head, puts the Doctor's suit on him, and tosses him near the site of his next murder. The police grab Grom, and Strelkov now believes that Igor is the Doctor. Dubin and Pchyolkina help Grom escape from custody and he goes on the hunt for the Doctor. Meanwhile, the vigilante publishes a new video: he calls on all his followers to fill the streets and lynch anyone they consider to be a villain. Spontaneous pogroms begin in the city. Razumovsky confesses to Igor that in this way, he wants to get rid of not only corrupt officials and rich people, but also his followers, whom he considers to be immoral imitators and misfits; in his opinion, the state will be forced to send troops and kill them, and Razumovsky will subsequently be able to create a "new Petersburg". A fight breaks out between Grom and Razumovsky, in which the Doctor almost wins, but Dubin and Pchyolkina come to Grom's rescue. Razumovsky is neutralized, and Pchyolkina reveals that she recorded his boasting speech, including his nefarious plans. Grom declares to the Doctor that he also sees problems in the country, but considers it unacceptable to solve them by means of murder. Meanwhile, the pogroms quickly subside when a gang led by one of Grom's informants acts against the rioters. Lyosha Makarov, who participated in them, is planning to kill the corrupt judge who released Grechkin. When his grandchildren visit him, however, Lyosha realizes that he is incapable of committing the murder, and spares him. FSB officer Strelkov claims all credit for the apprehension of the Plague Doctor, while Grom is content to spend time with his new friends, Dubin and Pchyolkina. In a mid-credits scene, Razumovsky is shown in a mental institution. His "dark side" speaks to him, telling him that "they" will soon be free. In a post-credits scene, Oleg Volkov is shown in a militant camp in Syria: it turns out that he is still alive, and he watches his friend Razumovsky's capture on television. ==Cast and characters== * {{ill|Tikhon Zhiznevsky|ru|Жизневский, Тихон Игоревич}} as Major [[Major Grom#Major Igor Grom|Igor Grom]], a police detective with the [[Saint Petersburg Police]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bubble.ru/en/characters/115-igor-grom |title=Igor Grom |work=[[Bubble Comics]]}}</ref> * {{ill|Lyubov Aksyonova|ru|Аксёнова, Любовь Павловна}} as [[Major Grom#Julia Pchyolkina|Yulia Pchyolkina]], a blogger and journalist<ref>{{cite web |url=https://moviecomicswhoswho.wordpress.com/2020/06/14/yulia-pchelkina/ |title=Yulia Pchelkina |work=Who’s Who In Comic Book Movies |date=June 14, 2020 |accessdate=March 28, 2021}}</ref> * [[Aleksei Maklakov]] as Colonel General Fedor Prokopenko, Igor Grom's boss, head of the Saint Petersburg Police<ref>{{cite web |url=https://moviecomicswhoswho.wordpress.com/2020/06/18/fedor-ivanovich-prokopenko/ |title=Fedor Ivanovich Prokopenko |work=Who’s Who In Comic Book Movies |date=June 18, 2020 |accessdate=March 28, 2021}}</ref> * Aleksandr Seteykin as [[Major Grom#Dima Dubin|Dmitry "Dima" Dubin]], a trainee at the [[Police of the Russian Federation]], Igor Grom's partner<ref>{{cite web |url=https://moviecomicswhoswho.wordpress.com/2020/06/16/dmitry-evgenievich-dima-dubin/ |title=Dmitry Evgenievich "Dima" Dubin |work=Who’s Who In Comic Book Movies |date=June 16, 2020 |accessdate=March 28, 2021}}</ref> * Sergei Goroshko as [[Major Grom#Sergey Razumovsky|Sergei Razumovsky]] / [[Major Grom#The Plague Doctor|The Plague Doctor]], a billionaire philanthropist, creator of the Vmeste social network * Dmitry Chebotaryov as Oleg Volkov, childhood friend and bodyguard of Razumovsky * {{ill|Mikhail Evlanov|ru|Евланов, Михаил Михайлович}} as Evgeny Strelkov, a [[Federal Security Service]] officer assigned from Moscow to investigate the Plague Doctor case * {{ill|Kyivstoner|ru|Киевстонер}} (Albert Vasiliev<ref>{{cite web |author1=Ирина Соснина |title=В Тернополе ночной клуб могут закрыть из-за концерта участника "Грибов" |url=https://kp.ua/culture/622757-v-ternopole-nochnoi-klub-mohut-zakryt-yz-za-kontserta-uchastnyka-hrybov |publisher=kp.ua |date=2018-11-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Елена Юрченко |title="Грибы": в чем секрет украинской группы, из-за которой дерутся жены олигархов |url=https://kp.ua/culture/571480-hryby-sekret-ukraynskoi-hruppy-yz-za-kotoroi-derutsia-zheny-olyharkhov |publisher=kp,ua |language=ru |date=2017-03-30}}</ref>) as Booster Ignat, Grom's informant and leader of the gang of football fans * {{ill|Oleg Chugunov|ru|Чугунов, Олег Вячеславович}} as Aleksei "Lyosha" Makarov, a boy from an orphanage * Anton Bogdanov as "The Leader", one of the bank robbers * Nikita Kologrivy as "The Psycho", one of the bank robbers * Oisel More Despaigne as "The Brute", one of the bank robbers * Yuri Nasonov as Kirill Grechkin,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://moviecomicswhoswho.wordpress.com/2020/06/20/kirill-vsevolodovich-grechkin/ |title=Kirill Vsevolodovich Grechkin |work=Who’s Who In Comic Book Movies |date=June 20, 2020 |accessdate=March 28, 2021}}</ref> the son of a billionaire * Anna Nevskaya as Olga Isaeva, head of RosGarantBank * Yuri Vaksman as Philipp Zilchenko, owner of the landfill * Vitaly Khaev as Albert Bekhtiev, entrepreneur, owner of the Golden Dragon casino * Yulia Pashruta as Anna Terebkina, a news presenter * [[Konstantin Khabensky]] as Veniamin Rubinstein, psychiatrist (in mid-credits scene) * [[Vitaly Milonov]] ([[cameo appearance]]) as himself ===Casting=== [[File:Жизневский Тихон Игоревич.jpg|thumb|180px|Tikhon Zhiznevsky, who portrays Major Grom]] The filmmakers tried to use less famous actors as they were dissatisfied with the same few actors playing in many different films.<ref name="Кинопоиск">{{cite web|author=Реутова, Ксения|title=«Майор Гром»: Как снимают первый российский кинокомикс|url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/media/article/4000362/|website=[[КиноПоиск]]|date=2020-02-02}}</ref> [[Bubble Comics|Bubble]] had difficulties with the casting—in particular, with the selection of a lead actor to portray Igor Grom. Alexander Gorbatov, who played Grom in the [[Major Grom (2017 film)|short film]], did not return to the role due to lack of interest in the project.<ref name="Переделка">{{cite web|author=Александр Стрепетилов|title=Как и почему переделали «Майора Грома»? Главное из интервью с авторами|url=https://www.mirf.ru/news/kak-i-pochemu-peredelali-majora-groma-glavnoe-iz-intervyu-s-avtorami/|website=[[Мир фантастики]]|date=2021-04-15}}</ref> The search for a new actor took a whole year. According to screenwriter and producer Roman Kotkov, "...we could not even imagine that it was so difficult to find a tall handsome man with intelligence in his eyes in Russia".<ref name="Кинопоиск"/> Eventually, Tikhon Zhiznevsky was selected for the role.<ref name="Переделка"/> Zhiznevsky had to lose ten kilograms for the part,<ref name="April">{{cite web|title=«Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор»|url=http://www.aprilclubnews.com/content/films/2128-major-grom-chumnoj-doktor|publisher=April Club Games|date=2021-03-24}}</ref> as well as undergo serious physical training in order to look more athletic.<ref>{{cite web|last=Васильева|first=Наталья|title=«Мне было стыдно, что я этим занимаюсь» Актер Тихон Жизневский — о реакции на свои роли, лазуритах Саши Петрова и спорах с девушкой|url=https://iz.ru/1144722/natalia-vasileva/mne-bylo-stydno-chto-ia-etim-zanimaius|publisher=[[Известия]]|date=2021-04-01}}</ref> For this, he worked with coaches in [[Moscow]] and [[Saint Petersburg|St. Petersburg]].<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Bubble Studios]]|title=<nowiki>Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор | Тренировки и трюки </nowiki>|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqRs-5owVDs&ab_channel=BubbleComicsBubbleComics%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BE|website=[[YouTube]]|date=2021-02-23}}</ref> Dmitry Chebotaryov, another actor who took part in the film and who had known Zhiznevsky for a long time, recalls that he and many of Zhiznevsky's other acquaintances would never have thought that their friend would fit the part he was about to play, as he was mainly known for playing romantic roles.<ref name="Чеботарёв">{{cite web|author=[[Bubble Studios]]|title=<nowiki>Дмитрий Чеботарев | Про театр, семью и "Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор" | Bubble Подкаст СО СПОЙЛЕРАМИ</nowiki>|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHazbthGZpk&ab_channel=BubbleComics|website=[[YouTube]]|date=2021-04-10}}</ref> For the role of Sergei Razumovsky, theatre actor Sergei Goroshko was chosen.<ref name="Горошко 2">{{cite web|last=Афонин|first=Сергей|title=«Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор». Сергей Горошко о сцене после титров, съемках после оргии и роли Чумного Доктора|url=http://geekcity.ru/major-grom-chumnoj-doktor-sergej-goroshko-o-scene-posle-titrov-semkax-posle-orgii-i-roli-chumnogo-doktora/|publisher=Geek City|date=2021-04-18}}</ref><ref name="Белик">{{cite web|last=Белик|first=Ольга|title=Брови и шаверма: Что мы узнали о фильме «Майор Гром: Чумной доктор»|url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/media/article/3419390/|publisher=[[КиноПоиск]]|date=2019-10-08|lang=ru}}</ref> In order to convincingly play the character, Goroshko compiled a complete biography of the character, from his birth until the events after the film, partly sourcing this from the comics as well as from the film's scriptwriters.<ref name="Горошко">{{cite web|author=[[Bubble Comics]]|title=<nowiki>Сергей Горошко | Творческий путь, театр и "Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор" | Bubble Подкаст со спойлерами</nowiki>|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_shFpVWbBLo&ab_channel=BubbleComics|website=[[YouTube]]|date=2021-04-17}}</ref><ref name="zeitnotinfo.ru"/> Goroshko also had to lose weight for the role, in his case fifteen kilograms.<ref name="zeitnotinfo.ru"/> The voice of the Plague Doctor in the mask is an overlap of the voices of Goroshko and Dmitry Chebotaryov.<ref name="Чеботарёв"/><ref name="Горошко 2"/><ref name="zeitnotinfo.ru">{{cite web|title=Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор. Подробности о создании фильма|url=https://zeitnotinfo.ru/major-grom-chumnoj-doktor-podrobnosti-o-sozdanii-filma/|website=zeitnotinfo.ru|date=2021-03-22|lang=ru}}</ref> Actor Dmitry Chebotaryov auditioned for both the roles of Igor Grom and Oleg, and, according to the producers, both auditions were successful, but he was eventually selected to play Oleg Volkov.<ref name="Чеботарёв"/> Chebotaryov was the only actor among the main cast who did not have to change his appearance in any way for filming.<ref name="April"/> Ukrainian rapper [[Kyivstoner]] was approved for the role of Booster Ignat, Grom's informant, due to his flamboyant personality.<ref name="xyz">{{cite web|author=XYZ|title=Как снимали «Майор Гром» — режиссёр Олег Трофим об операторской работе, монтаже и CGI|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHWZ8CdV-y4&ab_channel=XYZ|website=[[YouTube]]|date=2021-04-22}}</ref> Almost all of his lines were improvised.<ref name="КиноТВ">{{cite web|author=Телеканал КиноТВ|title=«Майор Гром»: создатели фильма про съёмочный ад, баню с Милоновым и «Игру Престолов»|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vzdMrcn9ZQ&ab_channel=%D0%A2%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%9A%D0%98%D0%9D%D0%9E%D0%A2%D0%92|website=[[YouTube]]|date=2021-04-01}}</ref><ref name="April"/> Politician [[Vitaly Milonov]] was invited to appear in a [[cameo appearance|cameo]] as himself, since the studio needed a character who would condemn the actions of the Plague Doctor on the in-film television. Director Oleg Trofim was opposed to Milonov becoming this character since he did not want the film to have unnecessary allusions to real life, but Gabrelyanov insisted, and Milonov appeared in a short scene in which he committed to a ban of the Plague Doctor masks.<ref name="zeitnotinfo.ru"/> ==Production== ===Initial plans=== [[File:Владимир_Беседин,_Артём_Габрелянов_с_постерами_и_Олег_Чугунов._Презентация_фильма_Майор_Гром._Чумной_Доктор.jpg|left|thumb|290px|Vladimir Besedin, Artyom Gabrelyanov, and Oleg Chugunov during the film's presentation at [[IgroMir]]/[[Comic-Con Russia|Comic-Con]] 2017]] Representatives of [[Bubble Studios]] repeatedly stated that the short film [[Major Grom (2017 film)|''Major Grom'']] would be a test project before filming a full-length movie, which, if successful, would be followed by adaptations of other Bubble comics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kinobusiness.com/interview/v-blizhayshie-gody-o-kinovselennoy-bubble-zagovoryat-vo-vsem-mire-poverte/ |title=В ближайшие годы о киновселенной BUBBLE заговорят во всем мире, поверьте! |language=Russian |trans-title=In the coming years, the BUBBLE movie universe will be talked about all over the world, believe me! |last=Gabrelyanov |first=Artyom |date=27 October 2016 |publisher=Kinobusiness.com |accessdate=28 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="cinemafia">{{cite web |url=http://www.cinemafia.ru/posts/731/ |title=Майор Гром: со страниц комиксов на киноэкран |language=Russian |trans-title=Major Grom: from the comic book pages to the movie screen |last=Rudich |first=Kseniya |date=16 November 2016 |publisher=Cinemafia.ru |accessdate=28 May 2020}}</ref> It was also stated that Bubble Studios plans to attract American actors to the project, film it in English, and launch it internationally, with a focus on Western markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/media/article/2897626/ |title="Майор Гром": Отечественный Бэтмен без плаща и бэтмобиля |language=Russian |trans-title=''Major Grom'': Domestic Batman without a cloak and a Batmobile |last=Fedorov |first=Aleksandr |date=17 February 2017 |work=[[KinoPoisk]] |accessdate=28 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://life.ru/p/918240 |title=Комиксы из России в мировом прокате: как "Майор Гром" будет покорять Китай и США |language=Russian |trans-title=Worldwide comics from Russia: how ''[[Major Grom (2017 film)|Major Grom]]'' will conquer China and the USA |last=Panfilova |first=Anna |date=17 October 2016 |work=[[Life (news agency, Russia)|Life]] |accessdate=28 May 2020}}</ref> The full-length ''Major Grom'' was to be produced by the same team as the short one.<ref name="cinemafia"/> The planned budget at that time was at least five million [[US dollar]]s.<ref name="РБК">{{cite web|url=http://www.rbc.ru/magazine/2017/04/58cfaec89a7947b5c9715c1f?from=detailed|title=Миллион для майора: можно ли заработать на российских супергероях|first=Елизавета|last=Архангельская|publisher=[[РБК]]|date=2017-03-29|accessdate=2017-04-10}}</ref> The filmmakers also said that the look of [[Saint Petersburg]] in the film would differ from the real one, and, in addition, the geography of the city would undergo changes. Bubble Studios director and ''Major Grom'' screenwriter, Artyom Gabrelyanov, commented, "There are certain things that make the character look organic. If you take a camera and just shoot what is outside the window, then any superhero in a Russian context will look funny".<ref name="берёзки">{{cite web|author=Леонов, Артемий|title=Мы выбрали родные берёзки» — каким будет «Майор Гром: Чумной доктор|url=https://dtf.ru/12749-my-vybrali-rodnye-berezki-kakim-budet-mayor-grom-chumnoy-doktor?|date=2017-11-22|work=[[DTF.ru|DTF]]|accessdate=2020-04-26}}</ref><ref name="Kanobu">{{cite web|author=Варков, Денис|title=Bubble приглашает всех желающих на кастинг для фильма «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор»!|url=https://kanobu.ru/news/bubble-studios-obyavila-ostarte-otkryitogo-kastinga-dlya-filma-major-grom-chumnoj-doktor-399289/|date=2017-11-22|work=[[Kanobu.ru]]|accessdate=2020-04-26}}</ref> The filmmakers planned to stick to a 12+ rating, although they did not deny that scenes of violence could increase the rating to 16+. According to Gabrelyanov, the studio did not set itself the goal of giving "a [Russian] answer" to [[Hollywood]], and that it is more important for it to prove its merits by deeds, not by words. In November 2017, Bubble Studios announced an open casting for the film.<ref name="Kanobu"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Самитов, Антон|title=Студия Bubble объявила открытый кастинг для фильма «Майор Гром: Чумной доктор»|url=https://dtf.ru/12743-studiya-bubble-obyavila-otkrytyy-kasting-dlya-filma-mayor-grom-chumnoy-doktor|date=2017-11-22|publisher=DTF|accessdate=2020-04-26}}</ref> Vladimir Besedin, who was the director at the time, mentioned that there would be several [[Post-credits scene|after-credits scenes]] related to the story.<ref name="Повеселились">{{cite web|last=Башурина|first=Евгения|title=«Мы знатно повеселились»: как Артем Габрелянов заработал миллионы на комиксах и не встретился с Харви Вайнштейном|url=https://www.forbes.ru/forbeslife/424257-my-znatno-poveselilis-kak-artem-gabrelyanov-zarabotal-milliony-na-komiksah-i-ne|publisher=[[Forbes]]|date=2021-03-23}}</ref> ===Teaser=== {{external media |align = right |width = 280px |video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQUxpQHY4eQ&ab_channel=BubbleComics Major Grom: Paper Airplanes] on YouTube }} [[File:IgroMir 2017 011.jpg|thumb|right|Photo from the presentation of the film at IgroMir / Comic-Con Russia 2017, depicting one of the bank robbers dressed as a hockey player]] A teaser for the film was first shown on 30 September 2017 at [[IgroMir|IgroMir / Comic-Con Russia 2017]].<ref name="meshcheryakova"/> The clip shows a young restless skateboarder, played by [[Oleg Chugunov]], who watches a video of the Plague Doctor and begins to believe in his ideas, before joining a flash mob in which everyone who wants to protest against government corruption must release a [[paper airplane]] from a window.<ref>{{cite web|last=Дундуков|first=Михаил|title=«Bubble Studios». Теория Большого взрыва|url=http://www.cinemafia.ru/posts/1146/|publisher=Синемафия|date=2017-10-07|lang=ru}}</ref> Igor Grom himself appears in the video only from the back, in passing, at a [[shawarma]] kiosk. The scenery of Saint Petersburg is made to look like [[New York City]], and the actors speak English; the audio was later dubbed into Russian.<ref name="Тизер1">{{cite web|author=Стрепетилов, Александр|title=3 вопроса к тизеру «Майора Грома»|url=https://www.mirf.ru/kino/3-voprosa-k-tizeru-majora-groma|date=2017-11-13|work=[[Мир фантастики]]}}</ref><ref name="Беседин">{{cite web|author=[[Bubble Studios]]|title=<nowiki>Владимир Беседин | Про создание "Майора Грома", творческий путь и приключения в США | Bubble Подкаст</nowiki>|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqnWf4bTcZ0&ab_channel=BubbleComicsBubbleComics|website=[[YouTube]]|date=2021-02-13}}</ref> Responses to the teaser included accusations by Alexander Strepetilov, editor of ''[[Mir Fantastiki]]'' magazine, that the Plague Doctor was a satire on popular Russian opposition politician [[Alexei Navalny]] (while in the comics he was an allusion to [[Pavel Durov]], a creator of the Russian social network [[VK (service)|VKontakte]]).<ref name="Тизер1"/> Popular video blogger and film reviewer Evgeny Bazhenov, known as [[BadComedian]], to the contrary, stated that any parallels in the film with existing reality were the right move on the studio's part: "In their first film, I did not relate myself to anyone. Here at least it is clear that this is a modern world, modern people".<ref name="OpenRussia">{{cite web|author=Ярошенко, Николай|title=«Чумной Доктор» Навальный: студия сына владельца Life расскажет о «злодее-борце с коррупцией»|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215848/https://openrussia.org/notes/716406/|date=2017-11-23|work=Открытая Россия}}</ref> ===First team and changeover=== According to the filmmakers, the short film was well received by Western audiences, and therefore the teaser was filmed in English. Artyom Gabrelyanov stated that Hollywood producers were very interested in the project. One of these was [[Harvey Weinstein]], but the meeting with him was cancelled at the very last moment due to [[Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse cases|allegations of sexual harassment]] against him. Foreign producers insisted on the participation of English-speaking actors and an Americanization of the film, so as to better cater to English-speaking audiences. Examples of this included changing Saint Petersburg to New York City and renaming Igor Grom to Harry Thunder. However, Bubble felt that this contradicted their concept for the project. As a result, they decided to refuse the help of foreign producers and shoot the film primarily for a Russian-speaking audience.<ref name="Кинопоиск" /><ref name="берёзки"/> Subsequently, the first teaser, as well as the original 2017 short film, were deemed [[Canon (fiction)|non-canonical]] to the events of ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor''.<ref name="Белик"/> During development, the production team had creative disagreements that prevented the work from continuing. The creative team wanted the film to be more story-driven, while the director of the short film, Vladimir Besedin, as well as the crew, wanted it to be more action-packed.<ref name="Бумага">{{cite web|last=Антонов|first=Евгений|title=«Мы решили абсолютно абстрагироваться от политики». Продюсер «Майора Грома» Артем Габрелянов — о главном герое-силовике, перезапуске картины и съемках в Петербурге|url=https://paperpaper.ru/my-reshili-absolyutno-abstragirovat/|publisher=Бумага|date=2 April 2021|lang=ru}}</ref> This changed when Artyom Gabrelyanov met producer Mikhail Kitaev, who became interested in the film and at the same time had experience in grand-scale projects, such as ''[[Invasion (2020 film)|Invasion]]'', ''[[Sputnik (film)|Sputnik]]'', [[Chernobyl (miniseries)|''Chernobyl'']], and ''[[T-34 (film)|T-34]]''. He helped make connections, select actors, and create scenery. Kitaev saw the ''Major Grom'' short film while on the set of the 2018 film ''[[Ice (2018 film)|Ice]]'', together with Oleg Trofim, and both liked it. According to the plan, filming was supposed to begin a month and a half after Kitaev joined the project, but in fact, Bubble only had a script and [[concept art]], and they were not ready for filming. Kitaev immediately noted the inexperience of the team and the lack of skillful management, and he felt that the script was decent but needed improvement.<ref name="Переделка"/> The first weeks of working on the film were extremely difficult, as the team did not understand what to do. In the end, the project was frozen, all deadlines were cancelled, and Gabrelyanov and Kitaev turned to Artyom's father, {{ill|Aram Gabrelyanov|ru|Габрелянов, Арам Ашотович}}, founder of [[Life (news agency, Russia)|Life news agency]], who had invested in the movie, for approval of a further work plan. A personnel reshuffle occurred, the new team worked for three weeks, but conflicts continued to arise, and the project was frozen again—this time for a week and a half, resulting in the entire team being disbanded. Vladimir Besedin, director of the short film, resigned, and Gabrelyanov, Kitaev, and Kotkov made a list of directors who could cope with the project, eventually selecting Oleg Trofim.<ref name="Переделка"/> ===Script development=== The film's plot is based on the first [[story arc]] of the [[Major Grom|original comic series]], which recounts the struggle of Major Grom with a serial killer hiding under the mask of a [[plague doctor]]. In the scenario itself, [[Bubble Studios]] planned to leave about 80% of the plot of the original story and add 20% of new content.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kanobu.ru/articles/major-grom-glavnoe-sobyitie-comic-con-russia-2016-369745/ |title=Превью фильма "Майор Гром" по комиксам Bubble |language=Russian |trans-title=Preview of the film ''Major Grom'' on comics Bubble |last=Boguslavskiy |first=Nikita |date=2 October 2016 |publisher=Kanobu.ru |accessdate=28 May 2020}}</ref> After the teaser was released, the filmmakers received many unflattering comments related to its political content, both from Russian pro-government structures and from members of the public opposed to the government.<ref name="Повеселились"/> As a result, it was decided to remove all the politics that were present in the original comic,<ref name="Империя комиксов">{{cite web|author=Мартемьянов, Максим|title=ГАБРЕЛЯНОВЫ И РОССИЙСКАЯ ИМПЕРИЯ КОМИКСОВ|url=http://www.gq.ru/lifestyle/gabrelyanovy-i-rossijskaya-imperiya-komiksov|date=2014-05-06|publisher=GQ.ru}}</ref> leaving only the problem of "uncontrolled crimes of rich people who can get away from the law with their money"<ref>{{cite web|title=Сценарий фильма «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор» был серьёзно переработан|url=https://regnum.ru/news/cultura/2739453.html|publisher=[[REGNUM News Agency|Regnum]]|date=2019-10-05}}</ref> and focusing on [[social inequality]] instead.<ref name="Повеселились"/> Gabrelyanov noted that the problem of inequality would also be more understandable to foreign viewers than allusions to Russian politics.<ref name="Бумага"/> Initial drafts of the script had scenes with helicopters and skyscrapers, but when producer Maxim Kitaev joined the project, he advised the scriptwriters to remove them, as they would require too much money, due to their scale.<ref name="Переделка"/> The plot before the restart of production was too large, and it would have been impossible to film, even if the team had a budget 2–3 times bigger, so the writers had to shorten it.<ref name="Бумага"/> When asked why the plot of ''Major Grom'' is so unoriginal and clichéd, Oleg Trofim replied that comics adaptations hadn't previously been filmed in Russia, and local filmmakers needed to master the genre and its basics first. Only once this happened would it be possible to [[Deconstruction|deconstruct]] the genre and create something more original.<ref name="xyz"/> During adaptation, the plot of the original comic underwent significant changes. For example, in the film, the character of Yulia Pchyolkina is not only the protagonist's love interest and [[damsel in distress]], but also a full-fledged participant in the story line.<ref name="12 сценариев">{{cite web|last=Бордуков|first=Артём|title=Рекаст, 12 сценариев, поиск главного злодея и другое. Все о фильме «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор»|url=http://geekcity.ru/rekast-12-scenariev-poisk-glavnogo-zlodeya-i-drugoe-vse-o-filme-major-grom-chumnoj-doktor/|website=Geek City|lang=ru|date=2019-10-06}}</ref> Oleg Trofim commented: "It is not relevant anymore to show the heroine as a girl who does not want to decide anything, but wants a dress".<ref name="Кинопоиск"/> In the film, the personality of Igor Grom also changed: in the comics, he is very noble and strictly follows a moral code, whereas in the film, he is more [[antihero]]ic and less scrupulous.<ref name="Vatnikstan">{{cite web|last=Беличков|first=Евгений|title=«Майор Гром» среди ясного апрельского неба|url=https://vatnikstan.ru/culture/cinema/major-grom/|website=Vatnikstan|date=2021-04-12|lang=ru}}</ref> The writers deliberately didn't show Grom's [[origin story]], opting to only offer hints throughout the film. Roman Kotkov explained this by saying that superhero origin stories have became boring to audiences.<ref name="PodSas">''Bubble Comics'' {{YouTube|id=8LTmm1sPDBY|title=Стас Васильев {{!}} «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор» — хорошее кино или политическая агитка? {{!}} Bubble Подкаст}}</ref> The character of Razumovsky also underwent some changes, especially his motivation: in the film, the Plague Doctor sincerely, albeit using radical methods, wants to make the world a better place, whereas in the comics, he only uses justice as an excuse, while committing murders for his personal gain.<ref name="Vatnikstan"/> The film contains a number of references to other Bubble comics, which are considered to be a setup for a potential Bubble cinematic universe.<ref>{{cite web|last=Прудников|first=Сергей|title=Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор|url=http://25-k.com/page-id-5759.html|publisher=25-й кадр|date=2021-04-02|lang=ru}}</ref> There is mention of a "hitman with rat" in the film—the nickname of Demonslayer, one of the key characters in the Bubble comic universe and the protagonist of the [[Demonslayer|comic series]] of the same name. Holt International, a corporation that designed the Plague Doctor's suit, appears in the ''[[Red Fury (comic series)|Red Fury]]'' comic series as a main antagonist.<ref>{{cite web|last=Мезенцев|first=Павел|title=Пасхалки и отсылки в фильме «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор»|url=http://geekcity.ru/pasxalki-i-otsylki-v-filme-major-grom-chumnoj-doktor/|publisher=Geek City|date=2021-04-05|lang=ru}}</ref> ===Filming locations and scenery=== If Besedin wanted St. Petersburg to appear Americanized, Oleg Trofim made the city look closer to reality.<ref name="2x2">{{cite web|author=Варков|title=Интервью с продюсером «Майора Грома» Романом Котковым и исполнителем главной роли Тихоном Жизневским|url=https://media.2x2tv.ru/roman-kotkov-tihon-zhiznevskij-intervyu-major-grom/|publisher=[[2×2 (TV channel)|2x2]]|date=April 2021|lang=ru}}</ref> Trofim lived in St. Petersburg for five years, and art director Dmitry Onishchenko is from there and knows the city well, and this helped when choosing locations. For over two months, Trofim and Onishchenko explored St. Petersburg to find streets that would best be suited for specific moments of the film.<ref name="xyz2">{{cite web|author=XYZ School|title=Цой, аполитичность и минимум графики. Как снимали «Майор Гром: Чумной доктор»|url=https://dtf.ru/cinema/159963-coy-apolitichnost-i-minimum-grafiki-kak-snimali-mayor-grom-chumnoy-doktor|publisher=[[DTF.ru|DTF]]|date=2020-06-25|accessdate=2020-07-05}}</ref> Oleg Trofim explained: <blockquote> "We know classical Petersburg, which is full of [[Baroque architecture]] and [[Art Nouveau]]. This is the city in which there was a [[October Revolution|revolution]], and [[Stalinist architecture|Soviet architecture]] has strongly settled there. We are also familiar with the gangster Petersburg from the 1990s, with its endless networks of [[courtyard]]s. We were faced with the task of determining which Petersburg to show. As a result, we completely abandoned the Soviet legacy and that of the 1990s and concentrated on the historical part, the one that is timeless, the one that creates the image of St. Petersburg as a majestic palace city".<ref name="Как снимали Бюллетень">{{cite web|author=Артур Чачелов|url=http://www.kinometro.ru/technology/show/name/mayor_grom_shooting_8400|title=Как снимали фильм «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор»|lang=ru|website=Бюллетень кинопрокатчика|date=2021-04-02|accessdate=2021-05-05|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427124748/http://www.kinometro.ru/technology/show/name/mayor_grom_shooting_8400|archivedate=2021-04-27}}</ref> </blockquote> In addition, the filmmakers decided to alter the layout of the city, as compared to the real St. Petersburg.<ref name="берёзки"/><ref name="Kanobu"/> To do this, they sketched a rough plan, marking the main locations in the film: the poor neighborhoods Grom visits, a police station, Razumovsky's office, and Grom's apartment. As a result, it turned out that [[Bolshaya Morskaya Street]] leads to [[Radishchev Street]], [[Zhukov Street]] becomes [[Galernaya Street]], and [[Nevsky Prospect]] does not seem to exist at all. Oleg Trofim complained that the logistics in St. Petersburg were inconvenient for filming, and that was why they had to create their own scenery.<ref name="Как снимали Бюллетень"/> <gallery mode="packed" caption="Filming locations gallery"> Y1A2705 Saint Petersburg (20523078486).jpg|[[Bolshaya Morskaya Street]], shown in the chase scene<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Bubble Comics]]|title=Факт: Погоня за бандитами|url=https://vk.com/wall-196250495_18311|publisher=[[ВКонтакте]]|date=2021-05-04|lang=ru}}</ref> Column of Alexander palacesqaureDSCN0618.JPG|[[Palace Square]] Marble Palace (oriental frontage).jpg|[[Marble Palace]], which became the exterior of a police station<ref name="stepanov"/> Елагин дворец с вечерней подсветкой.JPG|[[Yelagin Palace]], which became the Grechkin mansion<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Bubble Comics]]|title=Факт: Особняк Кирилла Гречкина|url=https://vk.com/wall-196250495_19100|publisher=[[ВКонтакте]]|date=2021-05-07|lang=ru}}</ref> Bankovsky Lane SPB 01.jpg|[[Bankovsky Lane]], where Grom bought a [[shawarma]] from a stall<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Bubble Comics]]|title=Факт: Любимая шаверма Грома|url=https://vk.com/wall-196250495_18934|publisher=[[ВКонтакте]]|date=2021-05-07|lang=ru}}</ref> СПб, Галерная, 55 (Арка) (2).jpg|55 [[Galernaya Street]]. The gateway of the house where the "attack" on Pchyolkina took place <ref>{{cite web|author=[[Bubble Comics]]|title=Факт: Арка перед домом Грома|url=https://vk.com/wall-196250495_20577|publisher=[[ВКонтакте]]|date=2021-06-18|lang=ru}}</ref> La rue parfaite (Saint-Petersbourg, Russie) (5232198793).jpg|[[Zodchego Rossi Street]], scene of the pogroms<ref name="Росси">{{cite web|last=Казаков|first=Илья|title=Чума на Росси. Съемки фильма бесят чиновников и рисуют массовые беспорядки в России|url=https://www.fontanka.ru/2019/09/09/157?rec=editorial|publisher=[[Фонтанка.ру]]|date=2019-09-08|lang=ru}}</ref> MATREX. Освещение ночью..jpg|The Matrex building in [[Skolkovo Innovation Center|Skolkovo]], [[Moscow]] was the prototype for the Razumovsky skyscraper </gallery> ===Production restart=== After the initial publicity in 2017, there was no new information about the film for two years. On 5 October 2019, continuation of work on the project was announced at [[IgroMir]] / [[Comic-Con Russia]]. It was announced that the director had been replaced, and instead of Vladimir Besedin, Oleg Trofim was at the helm of the production. The role of Major Grom also changed from Aleksander Gorbatov ([[:ru:Горбатов, Александр (актёр)|ru]]) to Tikhon Zhiznevsky ([[:ru:Жизневский, Тихон Игоревич|ru]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://moviecomicswhoswho.wordpress.com/2020/06/12/igor-konstantinovich-grom/ |title=Igor Konstantinovich Grom |work=Who's Who in Comic Book Movies |date=June 12, 2020 |accessdate=March 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://dtf.ru/cinema/73627-avtory-filma-mayor-grom-chumnoy-doktor-smenili-ispolnitelya-glavnoy-roli-i-obyavili-novyy-akterskiy-sostav |title=Авторы фильма "Майор Гром: Чумной доктор" сменили исполнителя главной роли и объявили новый актёрский состав |language=Russian |trans-title=The authors of the film ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' changed the lead role and announced a new cast |last=Ilyasov |first=Daniil |date=5 October 2019 |publisher=DTF.RU |accessdate=28 May 2020}}</ref> Additionally, significant changes had been made to the script.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/technology/articles/2019/10/05/812934-kinokomiks |title="Яндекс" и Артем Габрелянов снимут кинокомикс о майоре полиции |language=Russian |trans-title=[[Yandex]] and Artyom Gabrelyanov will remove film comic about police major |last=Istomina |first=Mariya |date=5 October 2019 |work=[[Vedomosti]] |accessdate=28 May 2020}}</ref> Filming resumed in [[Saint Petersburg]] and the film was initially planned to go on screen in 2019. However, in October of that year, it was announced that it would not be released on the due date. Filming was completed in December 2019. The official first trailer was released on 27 May 2020, a day after Saint Petersburg's anniversary celebrations.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 May 2020|title=Официальный трейлер|language=Russian|trans-title=Bubble Studios presents the first official trailer of ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor''.|work=[[Bubble Comics]]|url=https://www.xn--d1ajeffgcbssd1c.xn--80asehdb/|accessdate=28 May 2020}}</ref> ==Music== The music for the film was written by composer Roman Seliverstov.<ref name="Смотрим">{{cite web|title=Юбилей на свалке и студия "Битлз": как снимали "Майора Грома"|url=https://smotrim.ru/article/2541884|publisher=Смотрим|date=2021-03-25}}</ref> The film features symphonic music themes written by Seliverstov specifically for the production, as well as additional licensed songs. The symphonic portion of the soundtrack was recorded by the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] at [[Abbey Road Studios]], in the United Kingdom. Seliverstov insisted that the music be recorded in this particular studio, since, in his opinion, audiences were accustomed to the sound of Hollywood films, and something similar had to be achieved in ''Major Grom''.<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Bubble Studios]]|title=<nowiki>Роман Селиверстов | Про творчество, песню "Перемен" и музыку к фильму "Майор Гром | Bubble Подкаст </nowiki>|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgHBfpTVc2U&ab_channel=BubbleComics|website=[[YouTube]]|date=2021-05-01}}</ref> For the Plague Doctor's theme song, a special musical instrument was created, the "space cello", which resembles a [[cello]] but has only two strings, attached to [[Sound box|sound boxes]] by long steel springs. This musical instrument produces an aggressive, metallic sound, which, according to the composer's plan, should emphasize the fearsome character of the antagonist.<ref name="Смотрим"/> {{external media |align = right |width = 370px |video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSwtAdKKekw Opening credits, with "Peremen!" song] on YouTube }} The creators decided to use only Russian-language songs for the soundtrack.<ref name="Pluggedin">{{cite web|author=Линар Гимашев|title=Песни из фильма «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор». Весь саундтрек|url=https://pluggedin.ru/open/pesni-iz-filyma-mayor-grom:-chumnoy-doktor-vesy-saundtrek-30508|publisher=Plugged In|date=2021-04-01}}</ref> Oleg Trofim tried to use songs that were "not yet spoiled by their popularity", to help audiences discover new music.<ref name="Russia Beyond">{{cite web|last=Рябикова|first=Виктория|title=5 причин посмотреть «Майор Гром: Чумной доктор»|url=https://ru.rbth.com/read/1480-major-grom-on-netflix|publisher=Russia Beyond|date=2021-05-14|lang=ru}}</ref> During the opening credits of the film, a cover of the song "[[Khochu peremen|Peremen!]]" plays, performed by 15-year-old Taisia Ashmarova.<ref>{{cite web|title=«Девочка, несовершеннолетняя, живёт в Петербурге». «Фонтанка» выяснила, кто спел кавер Цоя в трейлере «Майора Грома»|url=https://calendar.fontanka.ru/articles/9651/|publisher=[[Фонтанка.ру]]|date=2020-05-29|author=Елена Кузнецова, Николай Нелюбин}}</ref> The song heard during the end credits, "{{ill|Poezd v ogne|ru|Поезд в огне}}", is performed by [[L'One|Levan Gorozia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Леван Горозия выпустил свою версию «Поезда в огне» для «Майора Грома» (Видео)|url=https://www.intermedia.ru/news/356765|publisher=InterMedia|date=2021-03-26}}</ref> List of tracks used in ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'', published by [[Yandex Music]]:<ref name="Pluggedin"/> {{tracklist |headline = Major Grom: Plague Doctor |writing_credits = yes |title1 = {{ill|Poezd v ogne|ru|Поезд в огне}} |writer1 = [[L'One|Levan Gorozia]] |length1 = 2:53 |title2 = Idu iskat' |writer2 = [[Dolphin (musician)|Dolphin]] |length2 = 4:09 |title3 = Impichment |writer3 = Magicool |length3 = 3:46 |title4 = Poezd v ogne |writer4 = Super Collection Orchestra |length4 = 3:36 |title5 = Ya lyublyu lyudei |writer5 = Dolphin |length5 = 3:33 |title6 = V nashem dome |writer6 = {{ill|Antoha MC|ru|Антоха MC}} |length6 = 5:00 |title7 = Silnee (OST Major Grom: Plague Doctor) |writer7 = Super Collection Orchestra |length7 = 2:26 |title8 = Kusok zhizni |writer8 = [[Aquarium (band)|Aquarium]] |length8 = 4:38 |title9 = Ya shagayu po Moskve |writer9 = [[Andrey Petrov]] |length9 = 2:09 |title10 = Plyonku peremotay |writer10 = Kasseta |length10 = 2:13 |title11 = Ya znayu, kto ty (OST Major Grom: Plague Doctor) |writer11 = Super Collection Orchestra |length11 = 4:19 |title12 = Ulybka |writer12 = [[Vladimir Shainsky]] |length12 = 2:05 }} ==Theatrical release== At the 2020 [[Comic-Con Russia]] on 4 October, an official trailer was presented and it was announced that the film would be released in April 2021.<ref name="Release">{{cite web |url=https://www.igromania.ru/news/98510/Mayor_Grom_vyydet_v_prokat_v_aprele_2021_goda.html |title="Майор Гром" выйдет в прокат в апреле 2021 года |language=Russian |trans-title=''Major Grom'' will be released in April 2021 |last=Ammosov |first=Alexander |date=October 4, 2020 |work=[[Igromania]] |accessdate=March 26, 2021}}</ref> ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' had a special screening on 26 March at the Aurora cinema in St. Petersburg.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tass.ru/kultura/10998859 |title=В Петербурге представили премьеру российского блокбастера "Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор" |language=Russian |trans-title=The premiere of the Russian blockbuster ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' was presented in St. Petersburg |last=Podervyanskaya |first=Aleksandra |work=[[TASS]] |date=March 26, 2021 |accessdate=March 30, 2021}}</ref> Its world premiere took place on 29 March at the Karo 11 October cinema centre in [[Moscow]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thoughtsabout.ru/events/9897/ |title=В Москве состоялась премьера фильма "Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор". |language=Russian |trans-title=The premiere of the film ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' took place in Moscow. |work=ThoughtsAbout |accessdate=March 30, 2021}}</ref> ==Reception== ''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' received mixed to positive reviews from Russian critics with review aggregator ''Kritikanstvo'' rating it 6,4/10 based on 39 reviews,<ref>[https://kritikanstvo.ru/movies/majorgromchumnojdoktor/ Рецензии на фильм Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор (2021), отзывы]</ref> while ''[[KinoPoisk]]'' reported a 71% critical approval rating based on 34 reviews.<ref>[https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/1109271/press/ Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор (2021)&nbsp;— критика]&nbsp;— КиноПоиск</ref> The movie was praised by ''[[Kanobu]]'',<ref>[https://kanobu.ru/articles/retsenziya-na-major-grom-chumnoj-doktor-ocherednyie-zaschitniki-ili-dostojnoe-nachalo-franshizyi-376295/ Рецензия на фильм «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор» (2021) с Тихоном Жизневским] | Канобу</ref> ''[[Mir Fantastiki]]'',<ref>[https://www.mirf.ru/kino/major-grom-chumnoj-doktor-peterburg-kak-russkij-gotem/ «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор»: Петербург как русский Готэм] | Мир фантастики и фэнтези</ref> ''[[Igromania]]'',<ref>[https://www.igromania.ru/article/31635/Obzor_filma_Mayor_Grom_Chumnoy_Doktor._Byetment_navsegda.html Обзор фильма «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор». Бэтмент навсегда]&nbsp;— Игромания</ref> ''[[Rossiyskaya Gazeta]]'',<ref name="РГ">{{cite web|author=Сусанна Альперина|title=И грянул Гром... Как в одном фильме соединились кепка Жеглова, очки Шурика и призрак Джокера|url=https://rg.ru/2021/03/30/v-rossijskij-prokat-vyhodit-film-major-grom-chumnoj-doktor.html|publisher=[[Российская газета]]|date=2021-03-30|accessdate=2021-04-07|lang=ru}}</ref> [[TASS]],<ref>[https://tass.ru/opinions/11020627 «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор»: каким получился русский супергерой]&nbsp;— ТАСС</ref> ''[[TJournal]]'',<ref>[https://tjournal.ru/tv/360216-iz-drugoy-rossii-kakim-poluchilsya-mayor-grom-chumnoy-doktor-pervyy-rossiyskiy-kinokomiks Из другой России: каким получился «Майор Гром: Чумной доктор»&nbsp;— первый российский кинокомикс]&nbsp;— Кино и сериалы на TJ</ref> DTF.ru,<ref>[https://dtf.ru/cinema/686292-mayor-grom-chumnoy-doktor-udachnyy-rossiyskiy-blokbaster-sdelannyy-po-vsem-kanonam-gollivuda «Майор Гром: Чумной доктор»&nbsp;— удачный российский блокбастер, сделанный по всем канонам Голливуда]&nbsp;— Кино и сериалы на DTF</ref> ''[[Elle Girl]]'',<ref>[https://www.ellegirl.ru/articles/stoit-li-smotret-maior-grom-chumnoi-doktor-recenziya-bez-spoilerov/ Стоит ли смотреть «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор»: рецензия без спойлеров] | ELLEGIRL</ref> and ''[[RBK Group|RBK Daily]]''.<ref>[https://style.rbc.ru/impressions/6065e67d9a7947074f56a456 Есть ли шанс у российских комиксов и каким получился фильм «Майор Гром»] :: Впечатления :: РБК Стиль</ref> Others, like ''[[Afisha]]'',<ref>[https://daily.afisha.ru/cinema/19329-gorod-kotorogo-net-stanislav-zelvenskiy-o-filme-mayor-grom-chumnoy-doktor/ Рецензия на фильм Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор от Станислава Зельвенского]</ref> [[Film.ru]],<ref>[https://www.film.ru/articles/shaverma-patrul-recenziya-na-film-mayor-grom-chumnoy-doktor Шаверма-патруль: рецензия на фильм «Майор Гром: Чумной доктор»]</ref> and ''[[Time Out (magazine)|TimeOut Russia]]''<ref>[https://www.timeout.ru/artwork/mayor_grom_chumnoy_doktor/review Рецензия на фильм Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор] | Time Out</ref> published mixed reviews, while ''[[Nezavisimaya Gazeta]]'',<ref>[https://www.ng.ru/cinematograph/2021-03-30/7_8115_movie.html Майор Гром разоблачает Чумного доктора] / Независимая газета</ref> [[Mail.ru|Kino Mail.ru]],<ref>[https://kino.mail.ru/cinema/movies/920049_maior_grom_chumnoi_doktor/#review Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор (2021) Рецензия редакции]&nbsp;— Кино Mail.ru</ref> [[InterMedia]],<ref>[https://www.intermedia.ru/news/356829 Рецензия на фильм «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор»: Бандитский Петербург]</ref> and ''[[Meduza]]'' were critical of the movie, and ''[[Kommersant]]'' published two conflicting reviews.<ref>[https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4751538 Бэтмент. На экраны выходит «Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор» Олега Трофима]&nbsp;— Газета Коммерсантъ №&nbsp;55 (7017) от 31.03.2021</ref><ref name="stepanov">[https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4731462#id2031722 Полицейская академия художеств]. Василий Степанов о «Майоре Громе: Чумном докторе», первой&nbsp;— и удачной&nbsp;— экранизации российского комикса&nbsp;— Weekend&nbsp;— Коммерсантъ</ref> Many critics praised the film for impressive visuals and the portrayal of a fictionalized version of Saint Petersburg, with an emphasis on the city's atmosphere. The acting, especially by Zhiznevsky and Aksyonova, was also met positively. However, many authors were uncomfortable with the movie's underlying message, which some believed to be anti-liberal and pro-police. ==Cultural influence, popularity and box office== After [[Roskomnadzor]], Russia's media oversight agency, [[Blocking Telegram in Russia|blocked]] the [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] messaging service nationwide in 2018, [[Pavel Durov]] organized a [[flash mob]], urging protesters to release [[paper airplane]]s on the streets on 22 April 2018 at 19:00. A very similar flash mob, including a mass release of paper airplanes, was organized in the first ''Major Grom'' teaser by the Plague Doctor, whose character in the comic is loosely based on Durov.<ref>{{cite web|author=Фролов, Андрей|title=Telegram предложил россиянам устроить акцию и выпустить бумажные самолётики из окна|url=https://vc.ru/36804-telegram-predlozhil-rossiyanam-ustroit-akciyu-i-vypustit-bumazhnye-samoletiki-iz-okna|date=2018-04-22|publisher=vc.ru|access-date=2018-04-22|archive-date=2021-07-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713153347/https://vc.ru/flood/36804-telegram-predlozhil-rossiyanam-ustroit-akciyu-i-vypustit-bumazhnye-samoletiki-iz-okna}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Telegram предложил пользователям запустить бумажные самолетики в поддержку свободного интернета|url=https://daily.afisha.ru/news/16354-telegram-predlozhil-polzovatelyam-zapustit-bumazhnye-samoletiki-v-podderzhku-svobodnogo-interneta/|date=2018-04-22|publisher=Афиша Daily|access-date=2018-04-22|archive-date=2019-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602151515/https://daily.afisha.ru/news/16354-telegram-predlozhil-polzovatelyam-zapustit-bumazhnye-samoletiki-v-podderzhku-svobodnogo-interneta/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Стёпин, Дмитрий|title=Павел Дуров — Чумной Доктор? Почему его акции сравнивают с действиями злодея из «Майора Грома»|url=https://medialeaks.ru/2304sda-st-durov-chumnoy-doktor/|date=2018-04-23|access-date=2018-04-30|archive-date=2018-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502223521/https://medialeaks.ru/2304sda-st-durov-chumnoy-doktor/}}</ref> Before the premiere, the analysts of the "Byulleten Kinoprokatchika" site predicted that the first weekend box office receipts would amount to 200 million rubles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Прогноз кассовых сборов России на уикенде 1−4 апреля|url=http://www.kinometro.ru/forecast/show/name/Prognoz-grom-4555|website=Бюллетень кинопрокатчика|accessdate=2021-04-16|lang=ru|archive-date=2021-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413223245/http://www.kinometro.ru/forecast/show/name/Prognoz-grom-4555}}</ref> However, the film received half the box office and earned only 105 million in the first weekend.<ref name="КМ" /> In the second weekend, about 66 million rubles were collected, and the total amount reached, taking into account the day of the premiere, up to 222 million.<ref name="FK">{{cite web|title=Сборы фильма Майор Гром: Чумной Доктор|url=https://ekinobilet.fond-kino.ru/films/detail/111004121/|website=Единая федеральная автоматизированная информационная система сведений о показах фильмов в кинозалах|accessdate=2021-04-06|archive-date=2021-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405125445/https://ekinobilet.fond-kino.ru/films/detail/111004121/}}</ref> The media suggested<ref>{{cite web|author=Сергей Сычев|title=Улицы сожженных фонарей: Майор Гром не побил Годзиллу|url=https://iz.ru/1146820/sergei-sychev/ulitcy-sozhzhennykh-fonarei-maior-grom-ne-pobil-godzillu|website=Известия|date=2021-04-06|accessdate=2021-04-16|lang=ru|archive-date=2021-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415142626/https://iz.ru/1146820/sergei-sychev/ulitcy-sozhzhennykh-fonarei-maior-grom-ne-pobil-godzillu}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Касимова|first=Дина|title=«Майор Гром» проваливается в прокате: 100 млн на старте и призрачные шансы отбить бюджет|url=https://kg-portal.ru/comments/95464-major-grom-provalivaetsja-v-prokate-100-mln-na-starte-i-prizrachnye-shansy-otbit-bjudzhet/|accessdate=2021-04-16|work=КГ-Портал|date=2021-04-05|language=ru|archivedate=2021-04-14|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414235642/https://kg-portal.ru/comments/95464-major-grom-provalivaetsja-v-prokate-100-mln-na-starte-i-prizrachnye-shansy-otbit-bjudzhet/}}</ref> that the film could hardly recoup the announced budget of 640 million rubles by the end of the rental.<ref name="РГ" /> To support the film with [[word of mouth]], Bubble comics fans organized a series of flash mobs on social media to draw attention to the film. Some fans bought seats in entire cinemas to secure the box office,<ref name="Сероволк">{{cite web|author=Александр Стрепетилов|title=Сероволк и шаурма: как зрители спасают «Майора Грома» при помощи флэшмоба|url=https://www.mirf.ru/news/serovolk-i-shaurma-kak-zriteli-spasayut-majora-groma-pri-pomoschi-fleshmoba/|publisher=[[Мир фантастики]]|date=2021-04-07|accessdate=2021-04-16|lang=ru|archive-date=2021-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418205024/https://www.mirf.ru/news/serovolk-i-shaurma-kak-zriteli-spasayut-majora-groma-pri-pomoschi-fleshmoba/}}</ref> and an unknown person even rented a [[billboard]] on [[New Arbat Avenue]], in the center of Moscow, where tweets calling to go to the film from ''Major Grom'' fans were broadcast.<ref name="PLAYERONE">{{cite web|author=[[Игры Mail.ru|Player One]]|title=<nowiki>Интервью с авторами фильма "Майор Гром: Чумной доктор"</nowiki>|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H04WA5fehbE&ab_channel=PLAYERONE|website=[[YouTube]]|date=2021-04-18|access-date=2021-05-18|archive-date=2021-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518185728/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H04WA5fehbE&ab_channel=PLAYERONE}}</ref> Gabrelyanov denied all accusations that Bubble is related to such flash mobs: “It's ineffective. It's easier for us to invest our money directly into the box office of a film than to lose half of it in cinemas."<ref name="Переделка"/> In addition, Gabrelyanov said that, despite the failure in the Russian box office, there is a chance to collect additional money through the sale of the film abroad, to the West and to China. He also suggested the possibility of increasing fees and by selling the film on streaming platforms, but for this it must be successful in other countries, and this, in turn, depends on marketing. New adaptations of Bubble comics could also come out if Bubble Studios makes films if ordered by online platforms.<ref name="Переделка"/> ==See also== * ''[[Major Grom (2017 film)|Major Grom]]'', 2017 short superhero film ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Major Grom: Plague Doctor}} * {{Official website|http://majorgrom.com/}} {{in lang|en}} * {{Netflix title}} * {{IMDb title|tt7601480}} {{Portal bar|Film|Russia|Speculative fiction|Crime|Comics}} {{Bubble Comics}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Major Grom: Plague Doctor}} [[Category:2021 films]] [[Category:Russian-language films]] [[Category:2020s superhero films]] [[Category:2021 crime action films]] [[Category:2020s vigilante films]] [[Category:Films based on Bubble Comics]] [[Category:Russian films]] [[Category:Russian superhero films]] [[Category:Russian crime action films]] [[Category:Russian vigilante films]] [[Category:2020s action adventure films]] [[Category:Russian action adventure films]] [[Category:Police detective films]] [[Category:Russian detective films]] [[Category:2020s police procedural films]] [[Category:Films set in Saint Petersburg]] [[Category:Films set in Russia]] [[Category:Films set in the 2020s]] [[Category:Films about police officers]] [[Category:Bubble Comics]] [[Category:Russian superheroes]] [[Category:Films shot in Saint Petersburg]] [[Category:Films directed by Oleg Trofim]]'