Regal robes and a royal air

Cate Blanchett, above, returns to the English throne in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” a collaboration with much of the team behind 1998’s “Elizabeth,” including director Shekhar Kapur, cinematographer Remi Adefarasin and costume designer Alexandra Byrne. In shaping the new film’s look and feel, Adefarasin and production designer Guy Dyas focused as much on atmospherics as period detail. ¶ The first film was “looking at a young woman’s journey from youth, imprisonment, being made sovereign, up to discovering her role as a monarch,” says Adefarasin via e-mail. “ ‘The Golden Age’ is more about Elizabeth seeing herself as immortal and doing her best for the country.” ¶ The sweep of that sensibility matched the mood they found in the paintings of J.M.W. Turner, which became a touchstone as the film proceeded. ¶ Set in the late 16th century, “The Golden Age” finds Elizabeth’s rule challenged by Spanish King Philip II (Jordi Mollà ), who is bent on restoring Catholicism to England, and brings the adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen, below right) into her circle. ¶ The film opens Oct. 12.

-- Susan King