The Lost in Space reboot has finally launched on Netflix. The 10-part freshman series is a modern remake of the 1960's TV show of the same name. While out promoting the new series, co-showrunners Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless opened up about the two filmmakers that helped inspire their take on the sci-fi series. Sazama said:
The two patron saints of our version of Lost in Space would be Steven Spielberg and James Cameron, and their sense of how you can have wonder and terror almost working hand-in-hand together.
Matt Sazama shared the insight during an interview with Business Insider when the Lost in Space showrunners were asked if any other sci-fi stories had inspired them. Sazama's answer is certainly a reassuring sign for the series and their vision for it. Steven Spielberg and James Cameron have been and remain at the forefront when it comes to putting science fiction on screen. It is practically impossible to think of anyone else who has offered a more definitive vision of the genre than them.
One of the largest elements of Lost in Space is the science behind its fiction. When it came to building a bridge between the audience and the world of outer of space, the showrunners turned to the works of Steven Spielberg and James Cameron for motivation. Lost in Space's co-showrunner Burk Sharpless spoke about that challenge and singled out three films in particular that helped he and Matt Sazama find their way:
One of the challenges is that while the show has a lot of science in it, we didn't want it to be about science. You use the science as a building block. You create a way in for the audience that makes it relatable. Even if it's an alien creature, it's going to abide by the same rules we would here. . . . People will be drawn in, in ways that make them feel engaged. That's something that Matt and I have always felt when watching our favorite adventure cinema, whether it's Jurassic Park, or Avatar, or Aliens.
One of the problems series like Lost in Space face is in translating the science in a way that makes it easy for viewers to latch onto without being distractive. Movies such as Jurassic Park, Avatar, and Aliens did that to popular acclaim and huge box office earnings. Based on the films and filmmakers that inspired Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless' Lost in Space reboot, it is an encouraging sign for the freshman series.
Lost in Space will waste no time working to hook you quickly. The first two episodes are directed by Neil Marshall, a heavy hitter in the world of TV. Marshall has helmed two of Game of Thrones' biggest penultimate episodes, Season 2's "Blackwater" and Season 4's "The Watchers on the Wall." He has also directed episodes of Westworld, the Starz series Black Sails, and NBC's Timeless. Marshall's involvement hints at the first two episodes being rather large in scale.
Science fiction fans can look forward to a weekend binge watch. Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless' adaptation marks the first one of the series since the underrated 1998 film starring William Hurt, Gary Oldman, and Friends star Matt Leblanc. The new TV adaptation stars Toby Stephens and Molly Parker as parents John and Maureen Robinson. Thanks to Netflix, you can watch the movie and the Netflix series.
You can get Lost in Space effective immediately. The entire freshman season is now available to watch. To find out what else Netflix has in store, check out our guides to TV's midseason and summer premieres as well as our 2018 Netflix premiere rundown.
