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STORY: Megastars Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson hit the red carpet for the premiere of their latest film "We Bought a Zoo" on Monday (December 12). The screening was held at the Ziegfeld theater in New York.
The movie is inspired by the real life tale of Benjamin Mee, a journalist and single father turned zoo owner. Damon is in the role of Mee, who faces the challenges of raising two young children, looking to give his family a much-needed fresh start. In the process he finds a home situated in the middle of a zoo and decides to buy it. With no experience and a shoestring budget, Mee now has to support his family and the local community to reopen a decaying zoo.
The role of Mee was one that Damon, father of four, could relate to.
Starring alongside Damon is Johansson, in the role of head zookeeper Kelly Foster.
The bombshell actress dazzled the press at the premiere in a black Dolce & Gibbon dress. Johansson, known for her femme-fatale roles said that it was the down to earth quality of Kelly that made her come on board.
For Damon, director Cameron Crowe was the deciding factor in taking part of the film. He said that he has admired Crowe's work, that includes blockbuster hits such as "Jerry Maguire" and "Elizabethtown," for years.
Also in the movie is Elle Fanning, sister of Dakota Fanning and star of thriller movie "Super 8".
She plays Johansson's cousin Lily Miska, who becomes fascinated with Mee's son Benjamin.
Fanning said that her famous sister inspires her to stay in the movie business.
"We Bought a Zoo," a charming, inspiring story of a family in the face of extraordinary challenges opens widely in theaters in North America on December 23.
