The Smokin' Hot 'Sahara' Premiere!
April 5, 2005
MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY and PENÉLOPE CRUZ braved the blazing, shifting sands of the harsh Moroccan desert for their new action-adventure, 'Sahara,' hitting theaters April 8. The hot couple also walked the scorching hot red carpet in Hollywood for their big premiere -- and we were right there!
But before the fun flick makes it onto the big screen, Matthew crossed the country for a six-week road trip to promote the sandy adventure. He made stops everywhere from New York to San Diego to Florida. "We're getting out and selling this film that I'm real proud to be a part of," he says. "It's time well spent, I guarantee you it will be fun."
We were recently on the set with the cast, who revealed why this movie appealed to them.
"It has something that reminds me of Indiana Jones," Penélope told ET about the new endeavor. "It's that tone that is so magical. I miss those movies, and that's why I was so happy when they called me."
Based on the hugely popular CLIVE CUSSLER novel, Sahara is just one of 17 international, best-selling novels featuring action hero Dirk Pitt. In what is intended to be the first of numerous adaptations, 'Sahara' finds Dirk (Matthew) searching for Confederate gold coins that have inexplicably materialized in Nigeria. When he thwarts the attempted assassination of World Health Organization scientist Dr. Eva Rojas (Penélope), Dirk discovers a nefarious plot involving a deadly disease that could spread to epidemic proportions. With the help of his long-time partner, Al Giordino (the always plucky STEVE ZAHN), and state-of-the-art equipment provided by his boss, Admiral Sandecker (WILLIAM H. MACY), Dirk sets out to save the world from an environmental catastrophe.
World destruction may loom, but Matthew says there's still plenty of time for a little romance along the way: "I flirt a little bit with [Penélope] in the first half, and then we sort of come together in the second half and then it's a great fairytale ending."
Did you doubt it would go any other way? The real question, however, is whether the filmmakers will be able to squeeze love scenes in between all of the spectacular action set pieces.
"We don't really have any, I'm sorry," apologizes Penélope. "There's one scene at the beach that's, like, the most romantic scene of the movie, but we don't really have any love scenes."
Love scene or no love scene, Matthew is obviously smitten with Penélope as an actress, and it appears those warm feelings may have also helped the Spanish beauty get over her spring breakup with TOM CRUISE. An off-set romance has blossomed between the two stars.
"I think she's adorable," Matthew reveals to ET about his doe-eyed co-star. "She sees everything for the first time, even if she's seen it many times before. There's a freshness and an innocence about that that I just find adorable."
For more on 'Sahara,' watch tonight's ET!
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