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Taylor Kitsch, who plays the title character in Disney's "John Carter," arrives at the film's premiere Wednesday at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. In the film, Kitsch plays a Civil War veteran who leaps through time and is transplanted on Mars, where he finds himself imprisoned by giant barbarians. The story is based on the adventure hero created 100 years ago by writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote 11 novels about John Carter's battles and discoveries on Mars. The novels <a href="http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/23/john-carter-director-andrew-stanton-to-skeptics-trust-us/" target="_blank">have inspired</a> many fantasy filmmakers, including George Lucas, James Cameron and "John Carter" director Andrew Stanton.

'John Carter' premiere

( Matt Sayles / Associated Press / February 22, 2012 )

Taylor Kitsch, who plays the title character in Disney's "John Carter," arrives at the film's premiere Wednesday at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. In the film, Kitsch plays a Civil War veteran who leaps through time and is transplanted on Mars, where he finds himself imprisoned by giant barbarians. The story is based on the adventure hero created 100 years ago by writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote 11 novels about John Carter's battles and discoveries on Mars. The novels have inspired many fantasy filmmakers, including George Lucas, James Cameron and "John Carter" director Andrew Stanton.