In the science fiction blockbuster Geostorm, Gerard Butler, as an engineer, has to repair a satellite in space in order to man-made storm to avert. At the same time, an assassination attempt on the US President must be prevented on Earth.
This absurd-sounding story from Independence Day screenwriter Dean Devlin’s film earned Geostorm many bad reviews. The strip also became a commercial flop at the box office.
Back then, Butler was already explaining the background story to Geostorm, through that of the sci-fi blockbuster suddenly in a whole new light appears.
Absurd sci-fi idea for Geostorm comes from director’s daughter
In a Geostorm report by The National at the time, Butler said the director got the basic idea as a glimmer of hope from his daughter:
If anyone is questioning the film, I know it’s for such a simple reason that Dean’s daughter gave him the idea. She said, ‘Dad, can’t we take something to heaven that’s this [Naturkatastrophen] fixes?’ And that’s where Geostorm comes from. It’s a what if? story. This cautionary tale of hope.
The core of the blockbuster is that mankind can control the weather and climate through satellites in orbit around the earth.
Although Devlin’s daughter probably didn’t suggest that Geostorm should also be about a plot to assassinate the US President, the story framework of the sci-fi flop is built on an optimistic foundation been. Knowing this, Butler lets all critical voices about Geostorm ricochet off.
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Star Trek is one of the most important science fiction series ever. But after the beginning of the new millennium, the franchise slid into crisis. Attempts to restart split the fans – in the cinema as well as on television. Still, Star Trek is as good as it’s been in years.
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In the new episode of the Moviepilot podcast, we explain why you should give the almost 60-year-old sci-fi series a chance and recommend three new series that are definitely worth watching.
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