Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, and Jurnee Smollett will headline Netflix's Spiderhead, an upcoming sci-fi movie that is being helmed by Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. Spiderhead is a direct adaptation of George Saunders' short story "Escape from Spiderhead," which he published in his bestselling 2013 anthology collection Tenth of December. Saunders' tale had first appeared in The New Yorker in 2010, receiving significant acclaim for its ingenious handling of the concepts of love and horror. Now Kosinski will render the short story into a feature-length film, and he has already enlisted the lead cast for his upcoming movie.
George Saunders' Escape from Spiderhead is set in the near future, where convicts can shave time off their sentences by volunteering in medical experiments. One inmate, Jeff, at the center of the story, takes advantage of this opportunity, consuming a drug that changes his emotions and causes him to confront his dreaded past. As a part of the experiment, Jeff is sent to a medical facility that is run by a brilliant visionary who presides over the program. As the story unfolds Jeff realizes that his experience with the drug is much more disturbing than his prison term. Netflix's Spiderhead will follow the same premise as its source material, although it will feature two inmates, instead of one, in its core narrative.
As reported by Deadline on Saturday, Netflix has cast an impressive trio of performers, including Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, and Jurnee Smollett to headline its upcoming Spiderhead movie. The streamer hasn't disclosed any details about Hemsworth, Smollett, or Teller's characters yet, but it has revealed the creative talents who are attached to the new movie. Spiderhead is being written by Zombieland and Deadpool penmen Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick. Screen Arcade's Eric Newman will serve as the movie's producer, along with Chris Hemsworth, Oren Katzeff, Geneva Wasserman, Reese & Wernick, Tommy Harper, and Jeremy Steckler.
Spiderhead marks Miles Teller's second venture with Joseph Kosinski. Teller has previously worked with Kosinski in the Tom Cruise-starrer Top Gun: Maverick. The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on July 2, 2021. As for Chris Hemsworth, Spiderhead is his second outing on the steamer. The Thor star has already made his big splash on Netflix with the highly streamed action-adventure thriller Extraction, and now he is aiming to cash on his popularity with more features. Hemsworth has reportedly signed a four-film deal with Netflix, and Spiderhead is believed to be included in the deal. Netflix, however, is yet to comment on the contract. Spiderhead also features Jurnee Smollett, who has recently surged to fame with her breakout role in HBO's Lovecraft Country. Smollett has previously won a Critics Choice Award for her work in Eve's Bayou.
Kosinski has undoubtedly tapped on the most refined talents for his upcoming venture. While it hasn't been officially confirmed, it appears that Hemsworth and Teller will play the prisoners subject to experimentation. And their fresh pairing will likely be something that fans will look forward to. Hemsworth Extraction was one of the most-watched feature films on Netflix in 2020, with more than 99 million views on the streaming platform in the first four weeks. Therefore, his association with the new movie is bound to attract viewers. As for Smollett, Spiderhead comes to her as a well-deserved big break that continues her hot streak in movies (Birds of Prey) and television (Lovecraft Country). Netflix is yet to lock a performer to enact Spiderhead's program supervisor. But given the film's already star-studded cast, viewers can count on the streamer to enlist an A-listed performer for the part.
Source: Deadline