Morgan Freeman talks 'Oblivion' and defends use of military drones

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Rise of the drones?

According to Time, drones are infiltrating human life, from the battlefield to the home. Ten years ago, the Pentagon utilized only about 50 drones in its fleet, while now it employs nearly 7,500.

In 2012, there were 447 drones attacks in Afghanistan during the first 11 months, and this year, there have been five covert attacks in Pakistan, eight attacks in Yemen, and strategists are planning to construct a drone base in Northwestern Africa.

The operations have sometimes been successful, but they’ve also fallen off target, killing more innocent people than predators. Opponents have criticized Obama for making it his “weapon of choice,” or “key national security policy,” and claim that he has misled Americans about his intent.

But drones are also being used for domestic purposes. Developers have created devices to save people’s lives at home, monitor hunting of endangered species, and conversely, “spy” over the country’s skies.

“When the movie was being conceived, the drone debate was a non-debate,” Oblivion writer Karl Gajdusek notes. “We were using drones, but that debate that’s happening in America wasn’t happening when we made this film…I don’t worry about a drone thing per se at all. I think you can talk about the surveillance state. You can talk about a state that wants to survey its people as a policy whether it’s done from a drone or a helicopter or a telescope, I don’t care. It’s really about the philosophy of what you want the government to know.”

He adds, “Obviously the drones in the movie are science fiction conceived. It’s the fun bad guy. It’s a less serious thing than what we’re talking about when we [are] discussing government policy.”

Another feature in Freeman’s big year

Beyond surveillance, the film touches on the end of ordinary life, and the often times overlooked beauty of simplicity.

For Freeman, it’s the latest in slate of films on tap for this year. The Academy Award-winner already starred in Antoine Fuqua’s new movie, Olympus Has Fallen, and will soon appear in the star-packed thriller Now You See Me. He also has two additional films aimed for release towards the latter part of the year.

Remarkably, the actor averages at least two films a year, often more, and his celebrity seems to only be mounting with age. Now one of the most revered talents in Hollywood, his acting career didn’t even take off till later in life when he made Driving Miss Daisy in his 50s, proving reward does come to the persistent.

“I didn’t want to fail,” Freeman remarks. “You know how you fail? You give up.”

Oblivion opens in theaters April 19.

Follow Courtney Garcia on Twitter at @CourtGarcia