The man who fell to earth is a sequel to the 1976 Nicolas Roeg film of the same name, which starred David Bowie as an idealistic alien corrupted by human vices.
We were trying to honor the great storytellers that came before us, but we also exist in a continuum of science fiction stories.
The series stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as an alien from the planet Anthea who arrives on Earth 45 years after the events of the original film. In order to portray a believably alien character, Kurtzman and Ejiofor created a detailed back story. It's a process of lots and lots of rehearsals.
The scene where the alien is found naked, guzzling water from a garden hose that has been shoved several feet down his throat is a reference to the novel and film.
One of the major influences was the physical comedy of Buster Keaton, who was renowned for moving his body in unusual ways while keeping his face still. It wasn't until after filming was complete that he discovered he wasn't alone in drawing inspiration from Keaton.
The complete interview with Alex Kurtzman can be found in Episode 513 of Guide to the GALAXY. Check out the highlights from the discussion.
Alex is on characterization.
How many alien come to Earth and then the government tries to grab them? We knew we needed the Jimmi Simpson character, but we didn't want to write a beautiful character story and then feel like you're in the CIA. It wouldn't feel right there. I think the way to solve a problem like that is to forget about the fact that they are in. What if he is the meanest man in the world? What if he is both a sadist and masochist at the same time?
Alex Kurtzman is a fan.
There is something interesting about what the Black Mirror episode says about fandom in general, not just for Star Trek. Fandom is a place where we escape to create an alternate reality for ourselves if our realities aren't quite what we want them to be. It was kind of a perspective on what happens when things go wrong.
Alex Kurtzman was a fan of David Bowie.
I would do these really deep dives into the interviews that he did with people, and I was amazed at how fearless and confident he was as a young man. He pushes every boundary there is, but there is an incredible vulnerability in who he is. He is still very unafraid to say the things that need to be said, but he has calmed down a bit in the middle of his career. By the time you get into his older years, there is the wisdom that comes with age, and a life lived the way that only David Bowie could. I think he was defined by bravery.
Alex is on science fiction.
I get excited when I see something that is trying to do something different, but also doing it in a different way that I like. We set out to do that with The Man Who fell to Earth. I think it's a great way to get to know people and to see what's going on in the world. The point is that great science fiction makes you think about your place in the universe. It allows you to go to different worlds and see things that you didn't think were possible, and it also transports you into a whole universe.
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