Hubie Halloweenis a polarizing one. Some people loveAdam Sandler’slatest Netflix offering, calling it a return to his earlier, sillier form. And some people (like our own Allie Gemmill) call it “very, very bad,” making us wish he’d return to his dramatic roles likeUncut GemsorPunch-Drunk Love. For the Sandman’s next movie, he just might thread those two needles. Per Deadline, Sandler is making another film for Netflix as part of his ongoing deal, but with a twist: It will be a serious, science fiction, space-set drama directed by a helmer of acclaimed HBO miniseriesChernobyl.
Based on theJaroslav KalfarnovelThe Spaceman of Bohemia, the as-of-yet untitled film adaptation will star Sandler as as an astronaut sent on a space mission to collect ancient dust on the edge of the galaxy. While there, a mysterious space voice speaks to him and offers him solutions to his increasingly volatile earth life — but what happens when he discovers this voice belongs to an ancient creature hiding within his ship? The unique sounding film will be directed byJohan Renck, who won two Emmys for his work onChernobyl, and written for the screen byColby Day, an acclaimed short filmmaker. It’s produced by Renck himself,Channing Tatumthrough his production company Free Association (was there an earlier version with him as the astronaut?),Tim Headington,Lia Buman, andMax Silvathrough Tango Entertainment (Blow the Man Down), andBen Ormand(The Lovebirds) and Sandler’s regular producing partnerBarry Bernardi.
Of the casting announcement, Renck said, “I couldn’t be more pleased to have found the perfect partner in Adam. And now, with the support of the brilliant Netflix family, I am profoundly excited to set off on our impossible journey.” I couldn’t agree more with Renck! I absolutely love Sandler in old school silly mode, but I absolutelyloveSandler in “idiosyncratic, eccentric, auteur-driven drama mode,” and the idea of him combining this skill-set with an as-of-yet unexplored genre/sci-fi/horror approach excites me, greatly. If this is Sandler’sGravity, Sandler’sAd Astra, heck, Sandler’sEvent Horizon— I’ll have to put a Howard Ratner-esque bet on his Oscar chances this go around.
