“Spiderhead” is an adaptation of the original George Saunders short story “Escape from Spiderhead,” which was first published in “The New Yorker” in 2010 and also appeared in his published collection “Tenth of December” in 2013. This short story collection received multiple honors, and “Escape from Spiderhead” became a fast favorite for screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who previously collaborated on the scripts for hit films like “Zombieland,” “Deadpool,” and “6 Underground.” The two spent nearly a decade working on their adaptation of the story into script form.
Taking the helm of “Spiderhead” is accomplished director Joseph Kosinski, whose sharp visual style has made him a standout in the sci-fi and action film spheres. Kosinski, who comes from the world of architecture, made his theatrical debut with 2010’s “TRON: Legacy” before adapting his own ambitious graphic novel for 2013’s sci-fi thrill ride “Oblivion.” Kosinski then impressed again with 2017’s “Only the Brave” — an action-drama based on an incredible true story — and he also directed the much-anticipated action sequel “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Kosinki was drawn to the story of “Spiderhead” because of its thoughtful approach to the growing prevalence of technology in modern day life, saying, “I felt the story had an interesting way of addressing how we live today with our devices and this desire to control as much as we can with all this technology we surround ourselves with. But technology’s not going to save us. There’s no pill or app that’s going to make us love each other more or behave better. Ultimately, it’s up to ourselves to do that.”
In addition to honoring the original themes and eerie atmosphere of the original story, the film also includes a bit of new writing from Saunders that will undoubtedly resonate with fans.