When one thinks of Alexander Payne, the words science-fiction don’t necessarily spring to mind, but the director was at once hard at work on a film in the genre, one he looks to finally return to. Before making The Descendants, he was looking to potentially make Downsizing, a sci-fi satire he scripted with Sideways‘ Jim Taylor, but due to heavy visual effects and prep work, he decided to turn his focus to a smaller drama that could be shot quicker.
Once looking to star former Payne collaborators Paul Giamatti and Reese Witherspoon, Deadline now reports that Matt Damon has committed to the newly revived 20th Century Fox project. Described by Payne as a “difficult” and “sprawling” screenplay, it takes place in a future where humans have the ability to downsize themselves, and in doing so, require far fewer resources. Damon’s down-and-out character decides to do this with his wife so they can make their money go further, but problems arise when they aren’t on the same page, so to speak.
It sounds like a fascinating new direction for Payne and it’s something we’re glad is finally coming together. Meanwhile, Damon can be seen in a certain feature in theaters now, and will next team with Kenneth Lonergan for Manchester-by-the-Sea and Ridley Scott’s The Martian.
Are you looking forward to this project finally getting off the ground?