Yeah… I thought it was a joke too. But apparently not. Twentieth Century Fox is making history this Friday by beaming the brand new remake of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL into space.
I got a chance to interview the film’s director Scott Derrickson this morning and asked him how it felt to be the director of the first film to be beamed to space. He felt privelaged. (Good interview. You’ll be hearing that soon in an upcoming podcast. He’s a really sharp guy. If you missed it, you can read my last interview with him here.)
I gotta give Fox props for their movie choice. I just saw a screener of the film yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it (I blogged all about it). And the message of the film is all about redemption- whether humans are redeemable. So I guess this film isn’t a bad choice of films to send… the message is solid.
Business Wire reports:
The first deliberate deep space transmission of this highly anticipated science fiction thriller will begin this Friday, December 12, 2008, to coincide with the film’s opening day on Planet Earth. If any civilizations are currently orbiting Alpha Centauri, they will be able to receive and view the film approximately four years from now in the year 2012…
Commented Twentieth Century Fox domestic distribution president Bruce Snyder: “We at Fox always like to think big, and what’s bigger than a ‘galactic’ release of a major motion picture event? We look forward to sharing THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL with our galactic neighbors near Alpha Centauri — and look forward to their feedback…eight years from now.”
Interesting article. It even includes a list of spots in our own solar system where and when the transmission can be intercepted… in case you happen to be near Neptune 4.03236 hours from the film’s release. (Neptune has always been Soooooo behind the times!)
I wonder what films got rejected from being sent into space? You could almost make a Top 10 List.
Starship Troopers
Independence Day
Signs
Indiana Jones 4
Alien
Predator
Alien Vs. Predator
Mars Attacks
etc. etc.
Wow… I’m wasting way too much time on this!
After having watched Galaxy Quest 2,173 times, I believe that what need to be careful when it comes to beaming movies into space. You never know what kind of alien civilization is out there and what impressions they will receive from our transmissions. In similar news, it is uncertain whether this comment will be received seriously or sarcastically…. that’s what I’m talking about.
Ha… I agree Swish! Wow. 2,173 times. And I thought I was a film geek!