Make it a Movie: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
In our Making it a Movie section we play the role of movie producers and map out the movie production. Currently Dark Matter sits as both Keith and Dylan’s #6 & #10 books, respectively. Dark Matter is a Psychological Sci-Fi Thriller, which if done right, would make for an amazing movie.
Based on: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Genre: Psychological Sci-Fi Thriller
Logline: Dark Matter is a Christopher Nolan and M. Night Shyamalan lovechild
Jason Dessen is basically Sean Maguire from Good Will Hunting, a (wicked) smart scientist who choose family over his career and never regretted it a day in his life. But what if he never had a family and went on to be the scientist he was supposed to be? Jason is kidnapped by a mysterious figure and brought to a new world where this very scenario plays out. Jason must put the pieces back together all while escaping an evil corporation.
It’s part Community – Darkest timeline, part Coherence (sleeper movie), and part Silicon Valley Schrödinger’s Cat.
Main Characters/Casting:
Jason Dessen – Jason is your average professor/family man until his world is turned upside down. As the movie progresses we are introduced to a number of different versions of Jason. These Jason’s posses the same smarts and intelligence but different levels of emotional intelligence and disposition. This role calls for someone with a wide range, and a true lead actor. Cillian Murphy fits the bill here, he easily be able to play a buttoned up Jason (like it Inception or Peaky Blinder) or a manic Jason (like in Batman or 28 Days later).
Daniela – is Jason’s wife and really what drives him to get his old life back. She’s both caring mother and eccentric artist. For this role we need someone that would be believable as both. Charlize Theron is another actor with great range and a believable action star. She is also someone you’d search multiple worlds to get back to.
Amanda – She likely would play a larger role in a movie, as she travels with Jason between worlds and may end up with similar screen time as Daniela. It seems like she’d be a love interest of Jason’s but, Daniela is in the way… alas, maybe in a different life (or world). Her role is very similar to that of Scarlett Johansson’s in The Prestige, so we’re going with her to round out this great acting and very attractive cast.
Production Notes:
The movie rights was acquired by Sony in 2014 before the book was even published. But it looks like the book is now slated to come out as a TV series on Apple TV, with Joel Edgerton being cast as the lead. Apple has recently released another Sci-Fi show Severance, which has similar mind bending themes, and received really strong reviews, so we’re excited to see what they can do with this!
Who do you think should play these characters? Let us know! And check out our Full Episode on the book.
