A quick primer for Disney's 'John Carter'

If the trailers are any indication, Walt Disney Pictures has spent more than a little bit of scratch on the production and marketing of the epic science fiction film "John Carter." With a rumoured budget in the neighbourhood of $250 million dollars, the house that Mickey built has a lot riding on the film's success. Based on the pulp novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator of Tarzan), the film follows Civil War veteran John Carter as he is mysteriously transported to Mars and is swept up in massive war for control of the dusty planet.

If you were left slightly confused (loincloths AND spaceships?) by the most recent trailer for the film, here are a few things you should know about "John Carter."

Who is in it?
The film is headlined by Canadian actor Taylor Kitsch ("Friday Night Lights," "Battleship") as the titular hero John Carter, and his "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" co-star Lynn Collins as Princess Dejah Thoris. As for the baddie department, Mark Strong checks off yet another box on his growing list of cinematic villains, playing Martian heavy Matai Shang. "John Carter" also stars Willem Dafoe, Thomas Hayden Church, Ciarán Hinds, and Dominic West.

What is it about?
Mars (known as Barsoom to its inhabitants) is a dying world. Dwindling resources have divided the population into long-warring factions, including the human-like Red Martians, the zealous, cult-like Therns, and the 12-foot tall, four-armed Green Martians. Wounded and seemingly killed in an Apache attack in Arizona, former Confederate soldier John Carter then awakes on Mars. Accustomed to the strong gravity of Earth, the lower gravity of Mars gifts Carter with incredible strength and agility. Already a gifted leader and warrior, these superhuman powers immediately thrust Carter into the political and military struggle for the planet.

Who's making it?
Directed by Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo,"  "Wall-E"), "John Carter" represents the filmmaker’s first foray into live-action. The screenplay was co-written by Stanton and Mark Andrews (director of Pixar's upcoming "Brave"), with script revisions being provided by Pulitzer prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon ("Wonder Boys," "Mysteries of PIttsburgh").

In many ways "John Carter" is not unlike Disney's mega-budget "TRON" sequel, “TRON: Legacy”:  Audiences were vaguely familiar with the franchise, but very few people actually remembered much about the 1982 flop. The sequel represented a huge gamble on the part Disney, but "TRON: Legacy" proved how well a little-known property can do at the box office when left in the right hands. Will "John Carter" follow "TRON: Legacy's" example? Disney is betting the farm on it.

"John Carter" arrives in theatres March 9, 2012.