Netflix’s adaptation of Jaroslav Kalfař’s novel, Spaceman of Bohemia, is set to premiere with much fanfare in a little over a month. The movie stars Adam Sandler as the Czech astronaut Jakub, who during a six-month stint alone in space makes friends with an alien spider named Hanuš (voiced by Paul Dano) who helps him with his faltering marriage to Lenka (Carey Mulligan). The premise on the surface could be seen as funny, but the novel—and apparently the adaptation based on the trailer released today—is a heartrending tale that explores themes of love and family across the seemingly unending chasm of time and space.
The movie comes to us from director Johan Renck, who also directed all five episodes of HBO’s limited series, Chernobyl, with a screenplay by Colby Day. In addition to Sandler, Dano, and Mulligan, the cast stars Kunal Nayyar, Lena Olin, and Isabella Rossellini.
The casting is one of the most intriguing things about this adaptation. Sandler has already proved his drama chops in projects like Hustle and Uncut Gems, and it looks like Spaceman will see him in another dramatic role. Dano’s eerie voicing of Hanuš also stands out in the trailer.
“Paul was the first thing that came up in thinking about [the creature],” Renck told TUDUM, a Netflix-run website. “He has this peculiar cadence when he’s speaking, his careful formulation of words, and his very unique voice.”
Kalfař was consulted during the adaptation and spent several hours with Sandler via Zoom to answer his questions about Czech culture. The author is also pleased with how the movie version of his story came out.
“I was completely blown away when I saw the film. I’ve seen it twice now,” Kalfař told TUDUM. “I think all the people out there who love weird things and weird art will hopefully be delighted by it.”
Spaceman will play in select theaters starting February 23, 2024, and will be available on Netflix starting March 1, 2024.
