- The plot does not revolve around the sun dying in the normal sense: this is not due for around five billion years based on our understanding of nuclear fusion. It has instead been "infected" with a "Q-ball" - a supersymmetric nucleus, left over from the big bang - that is disrupting the normal matter. This is a theoretical particle that scientists at CERN are currently trying to confirm, and was one of the many contributions of the science advisor. The film's bomb is meant to blast the Q-ball to its constituent parts which will then naturally decay, allowing the sun to return to normal.
- Dr Brian Cox, CERN / Manchester University, acted as the film's science advisor. His wife was involved in production of the movie's blog.
- In the original screenplay, the Icarus payload was the same size, but was made of highly compressed dark matter (there is no mention of needing fissile material) and had the same mass as the moon, so it had its own gravity (one-sixth the Earth's normal). The science advisor pointed out problems with using a bomb that massive, so it was reduced to the mass of Manhattan. A take with the original line can be seen on the DVD, in a deleted scene.
- Alex Garland wrote the film as a "love letter" to psychologically-minded science-fiction, and also a film about atheism and "meeting God". He and director Danny Boyle differed in their interpretation of this aspect of this film, but found this did not affect the content of the movie. Garland remarks that they had reached "the same two interpretations that could be made from the world around us".
- The distinctive golden color of the space suits was intended to make them memorable to sci-fi fans. The character "Kenny" from "South Park" (1997) was used as a design reference for the funnel-shaped helmet. A small number of suits and helmets were built as wearable costumes, so the actors could experience the claustrophobia and react appropriately.
- The name of the spaceships - Icarus - is symbolic. Icarus is a character in Greek Mythology. His father, Daedalus, made a pair of wings for himself and his son so that they could escape from a prison. He made them from feathers and wax. Before they took off, Daedalus warned his son not to fly too close to the sun, as the wax will melt, nor too close to the sea, as the feathers will dampen. But overcome by the feeling that flying gave him, Icarus soared through the sky, too close to the sun. His wings melted and Icarus fell into the sea.
- Director Michael Winterbottom had originally hoped to use the film's sets on the production's off days to shoot his own science fiction comedy. Permission was never worked out and Winterbottom's film was canceled.
- Cliff Curtis had to leave filming early for personal reasons, so several shots of him (such as entering the bomb compartment) had to be provided by a double wearing dark glasses and a baseball cap. These were deleted when that part of the "test-firing" scene was given to Rose Byrne's character. You can view his double's work on the deleted scenes included on the DVD.
- The name of physicist Robert Capa has been taken from photographer Robert Capa, made famous because of his legendary "Falling Soldier" photo, that depicted a falling soldier in the very moment of being killed by a bullet.
- This is the second film titled 'Sunshine' to feature actor Mark Strong, after Sunshine (1999).
- The emergency over-ride code 000 is the number for emergency services (Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance) in Australia.
- On the DVD commentary, the Science Adviser Brian Cox bets the viewer £10 that they (CERN) will not discover the Q-ball particle that disables the Sun in this film's plot. He invites an email to claim the bet. That claim is due in 2017. (In the same commentary, Dr Cox also says that scientists do not gamble!)
- As of 2009, this is the only movie where Fox Searchlight Pictures has their lead-in advertisement at the start of the film played backwards.
- Although not mentioned by any of the characters, the mission patches reveal that Cassie's name is actually "Cassidy". Cassie is a nickname based on her surname.
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Trivia items below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- SPOILER: In some earlier versions of the screenplay, the Icarus ships used rotating sections to provide artificial gravity. This is not used in the finished movie, so people experience normal Earth gravity everywhere while aboard the ships (apart from a short moment in the Icarus II airlock before it is re-compressed). An early storyboard shows the crew boarding the stricken Icarus I and finding that the only gravity is "sideways", towards the bomb.
- SPOILER: Many of the computer graphic effects were built around an on-set, physical effect, so that the actors had something to respond to. Many of the actors took on these scenes themselves. Cliff Curtis deserves a special mention, as he blocked his nostrils and ears with cotton wool so he could be blasted from all directions with dust.
- SPOILER: When the crew enters Icarus 1, flash frames appear on screen when the flashlights point into the camera. These frames are pictures of the crew of Icarus 1 taken from the group photo seen later. Another few flash frames are seen later when Capa learns that there is a 5th crew member on board.
- SPOILER: The final scene is filmed on Gärdet, Stockholm, Sweden. The Sydney Opera House has been added to give the impression that it had snowed in Australia.
- SPOILER: For the scene in which Chris Evans's character Mace is fixing the Icarus 2 in the coolant, to make his breath appear that it was cold, Evans was actually entering extremely cold water with each take. His teeth chattering is a real reaction.
- SPOILER: In the original script Mace would have slowly frozen to death, having become too weak to pull himself out of the coolant tank. Danny Boyle was impressed by the character and didn't think that alone could stop him, so the trapped leg was devised to seal his fate.
- SPOILER: Corazon's body, which crashes past Capa during the airlock breach, was actually a dummy. The crew found the replica of Michelle Yeoh incredibly creepy due to its realism.
- SPOILER: The DVD commentaries from director Danny Boyle and consultant Brian Cox conflict on whether Trey actually committed suicide, as first appears, or whether Pinbacker killed Trey and made it look like a suicide, which is what happened according to Boyle. Cox states that Benedict Wong felt his character had in fact committed suicide. When Mace opens the drawer there are two scalpels missing, which could support either scenario. However, it seems very unlikely that the insane Pinbacker would have sufficient motive or patience to fake Trey's suicide, especially when he later is seen trying to murder the rest of the crew as fast as he can.
Related Links
