Netflix is jumping in with both feet for its newly announced project. Based on a book that has yet to be released, the streaming leader has not only purchased the rights to The Upper World but has tagged its lead in Daniel Kaluuya, who will also produce the film. The book by the same name is scheduled for release beginning of 2021 in the UK and 2022 in the US, which comes from Femi Fadugba, a physicist debuting his first novel.
Daniel Kaluuya will produce and star in the new Netflix film THE UPPER WORLD.
Adapted from the upcoming debut contemporary sci-fi novel by physicist-turned-author Femi Fadugba, the story follows Esso, a young man who can see glimpses of the past and the future. pic.twitter.com/yJxTy05ToK
— NetflixFilm (@NetflixFilm) August 13, 2020
As the tweet mentions, the plot of the book revolves around a man named Esso, who can see into the past as well as the future. When caught in a deadly situation, Esso recruits the help of Rhia decades into the future who plays an important role in the past. Cue the mind-bending time travel discussions and Reddit threads.
Fadugba has a Masters from Oxford University and earned the prestigious Thouron Award which allowed him to continue his graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Using his knowledge in quantum physics, Fadugba created the story behind The Upper World and immediately caught the attention of Netflix Films when presented with the manuscript. In a statement to the press, Vice President of Netflix Films Tendo Nagenda had this to say:
You may not know his name, but once you’ve read ‘The Upper World’ you won’t be able to forget it. Films can impact and expand the way people see and experience life. ‘The Upper World’ will be one of those films. I’m neither from the place nor ‘time’ depicted in the pages of the debut novel. However, through staggeringly skilled storytelling, I was taken on a mind-and-heart altering adventure through the book’s characters and experiences.
Kaluuya most recently appeared in 2019’s Queen & Slim, and his upcoming film Judas and the Black Messiah is slated for release in 2021. The breakout star of Get Out has garnered Academy Award nominations and the trailer for next year’s film revolving around the Black Panthers would suggest another nomination could be in order.
