Paul Dano and Kunal Nayyar have been cast in Netflix's Spaceman. The Riddler of Matt Reeves' upcoming The Batman and the long-time The Big Bang Theory star join an ensemble helmed by Adam Sandler and 2021 Oscar-nominee Carey Mulligan. The sci-fi drama follows a troubled astronaut (Sandler) who finds an unlikely source of support while on his lonely solo mission to collect space dust from the fringes of the galaxy. Johan Renck, who won an Emmy for his work on Chernobyl, will direct Colby Day's adaptation of the novel Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfař.
Now, Deadline reports that Paul Dano and Kunal Nayyar are set for Spaceman. For Dano, the role will be another step in his return to on-screen acting since he directed fellow Spaceman cast-member Mulligan in his directorial debut Wildlife back in 2018. That same year, Nayyar was named the third-highest paid TV actor thanks to his role as Raj Koothrappali on The Big Bang Theory, which ended its 12-season run in 2019. Produced by Free Association, the production shingle run by Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, and Peter Kiernan, Spaceman does not yet have a release date.
Though their roles in the ambitious project have yet to come to light, both actors should bring a lot to the absurdist sci-fi tale. The film's synopsis describes Sandler's astronaut turning "to the only voice who can help him" put his life back together, adding that "it just so happens to belong to a creature from the beginning of time lurking in the shadows of his ship." If Dano were to take on the role of this voice, which in the novel comes from a giant arachnid, his slippery, reedy pitch could produce the required blend of deceit and trustworthiness. As for Nayyar, who could be in line for that vocal role too after he lent his dulcet tones to the Trolls franchise, the film should provide an exciting chance to stretch his acting chops after spending the past decade-plus working in the relative confines of a network sitcom. No matter what parts these two talented performers end up playing, Dano and Nayyar's involvement should thrill sci-fi fans everywhere eagerly awaiting Spaceman's arrival.
Source: Deadline