Project Hail Mary Directors Say They Finally Solved the Lunar Gravity Problem for an Artemis Adaptation
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller confirm their Artemis movie adaptation is still happening, revealing they have finally solved the budget-friendly production challenge of filming in lunar gravity.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are keeping their sights set on another Andy Weir adaptation. Following the release of Project Hail Mary, the co-directors confirmed that they are still very much committed to bringing Weir’s 2017 lunar heist novel, Artemis, to the screen. While The Martian and Project Hail Mary focused on single protagonists relying on sheer resourcefulness while isolated in deep space, Artemis shifts gears into a gritty noir narrative. The story centers on Jazz Bashara, a small-time smuggler living in the titular moon city who inadvertently stumbles into a corporate conspiracy threatening the entire population.
The primary roadblock keeping Artemis off the silver screen has always been the setting. Recreating lunar gravity, which sits at roughly one-sixth of Earth's pull, is notoriously difficult and usually requires a massive special effects budget. However, Lord and Miller recently shared with ScreenRant that they have finally cracked the visual problem. According to the directors, they have developed a practical approach to shooting reduced gravity that avoids a runaway budget, clearing the way for the project to move forward with its script already in hand.
Andy Weir originally envisioned Artemis as the launching pad for an expansive sci-fi universe with multiple stories unfolding inside the lunar settlement over time. Although the novel hit the New York Times bestseller list off the momentum of The Martian, it received mixed reviews and lukewarm reception from readers, causing publishers to pass on potential sequels. If Lord and Miller can pull off this cinematic adaptation and capture the gritty charm of the lunar city, it might just give Weir the second chance he wants to expand this corner of his sci-fi universe. You can read the original coverage over at Polygon.
Tags: Movies, Sci-Fi, Adaptations, Andy Weir, Entertainment
Original article: Polygon