2012 sees both St Peter's Basilica and Brazil's revered statue, Christ The Redeemer, toppled. Photo / Supplied

2012 sees both St Peter's Basilica and Brazil's revered statue, Christ The Redeemer, toppled. Photo / Supplied

End of the world epic 2012 marks director Roland Emmerich's third attempt to destroy the earth. Following famed blockbuster hits, Independence Day, in which Will Smith saves the world from aliens, and The Day After Tomorrow, where we see the catastrophic effects of global warming, 2012 is based on the Mayan prophecy which predicts the ultimate Judgment Day as December 21, 2012.

It begs the question, is Emmerich determined to kill us, one way or another?

He laughs. Relaxing in his Beverly Hills hotel suite, he says, "Well, I don't only do disaster movies - and I hope this is the last one, at least for a long time. I don't want to keep repeating myself."

2012, an idea of Emmerich's writing partner Harald Kloser, comes at a time when the world is suffering from financial disaster. As far as escapism is concerned, what better way to relieve your own personal monetary woes than watching the entire world collapse in a US$200 million, two-hour-40-minute tragedy of biblical proportions?

"When we were shooting the movie, all of a sudden there was the global recession.

Everybody asked us, 'How did you know?' But I've had this whole end of the world feeling for seven years, since The Day After Tomorrow, which is why I made that movie," says the German-born writer-director. "We're not as optimistic about the future anymore and we buy into this scenario. I felt the pessimism back then. I felt that we're doing something wrong. It's a little bit zeitgeist."

Doom and gloom aside, 2012 is a special effects-laden extravaganza complete with tsunamis, volcanoes, trains being hurled through the air, and earthquakes on a Richter scale upwards of 10.5. It also puts John Cusack in the unlikely hot-seat of "action hero". Says Cusack, "It's not like I've avoided these roles in the past, I've just never been offered them. Those roles usually go to the top box office stars in the world and I'm not an A-list actor for action roles, although I have been offered some not-so-good versions which I turned down." Emmerich, who generally makes interesting casting choices, says, "That's why I wanted him. I wanted to have someone who was believable and who was smart and intelligent. I think John Cusack brings a level of quality to what he does. I think he's known for certain parts which we were able to use in a clever way."

The ensemble cast of 2012 includes Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Danny Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor (who is currently shooting Salt with Phillip Noyce), and Woody Harrelson, who appears for some much-needed comic relief. A rollercoaster ride of sorts, it would seem that Emmerich has fun targeting some of the world's most famous monuments and religious icons, including The Vatican's St Peter's Basilica, and Brazil's revered statue, Christ The Redeemer, as they come toppling down.