10 Major Updates Spaceman Brings To The 2017 Novel

Adam Sandler's recent film, Spaceman, took some bold liberties with the original source material, which led to a mixed reception from critics. Based on Jaroslav Kalfař's 2017 novel, Spaceman of Bohemia, the Netflix movie took a creative approach to its adaptation. In an effort to showcase Adam Sandler's versatility as an actor, the film featured a talented cast of actors who ended up telling a unique story that differed significantly from the book.

Jakub Was Saved By Russians Instead

Spaceman of Bohemia was a thought-provoking dive into corruption, political turmoil, and human connections with a sci-fi twist. The story was set against the backdrop of the aftermath of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. Swedish director Johan Renck chose to focus primarily on the relationship aspect of the plot for the film adaptation. He placed Jakub and Lenka's turbulent love story at the heart of the movie, while downplaying the novel's strong political undertones. This decision led to significant alterations in the storyline, which may have impacted the film's reception, given the mixed reviews received by Spaceman.

In the book, Sandler's character went from one danger to the next

Adam-Sandler-Spaceman - In the book, Sandler's character went from one danger to the next - Jakub Was Saved By Russians Instead

In Renck's film, Jakub's close brush with death in the mysterious Chopra dust cloud ended when he was saved by the South Korean space mission, pulling him from the cosmic debris after Hanuš' tragic passing.

However, the original book saw Jakub instead picked up by a Russian shuttle, flown as a top-secret mission to the Chopra cloud out of the public eye. This blessing turned out to be another danger for Jakub to overcome, as he realized on the journey home that the Russians planned to interrogate him upon returning to Earth.

Jakub Didn't Hire Someone To Spy On Lenka

In the book, Jakub wasn't content with simply waiting around for a message

Adam-Sandler's-Jakub - In the book, Jakub wasn't content with simply waiting around for a message - Jakub Didn't Hire Someone To Spy On Lenka

Custom Image by Yailin Chacon

The Film Added A South Korean Mission

In addition to exploring themes of loneliness, Johan Renck's film also introduced a new storyline involving a South Korean mission. This addition provided a fresh perspective and added complexity to the original narrative, offering viewers a different angle to Jakub's character development and his interactions with other characters. The inclusion of this mission helped to further engage audiences and create a more dynamic and multi-layered story.

Netflix introduced a space race element not present in the original novel

Adam Sandler wears an astronaut suit in Spaceman - Netflix introduced a space race element not present in the original novel - The Film Added A South Korean Mission

Spaceman Didn't Include The Shoe Man

In the Netflix film Spaceman of Bohemia, the Czech Republic embarked on a mission to the Chopra dust cloud that other countries deemed too risky to attempt publicly. Despite the concerns, the Eastern European nation ventured alone to explore the astronomical anomaly. Surprisingly, the mission was depicted as part of a space race in the movie, with a South Korean mission following closely behind only days after the Czech voyage. This plot twist was likely incorporated to provide Adam Sandler's character with a way back home, avoiding the dark connotations of the Russian "rescue" in the original book.

The closest thing the book had to a central antagonist was nowhere to be found in Netflix's adaptation

Adam Sandler Spaceman - The closest thing the book had to a central antagonist was nowhere to be found in Netflix's adaptation - Spaceman Didn't Include The Shoe Man

Netflix's Spaceman was less focused on politics compared to its source material, Spaceman of Bohemia. This adaptation only briefly touched on Jakub's past, which was more extensively explored in the original book. As a result, one of the key characters from the book, Radislav Zajic, also known as The Shoe Man, was omitted from the Netflix series. The Shoe Man, a poet, was subjected to torture by Jakub's father for creating work that resonated with Velvet revolutionaries. He earned his nickname from the brutal treatment inflicted by Jakub's father. Seeking revenge, Zajic used his newfound power in the Czech Republic's government to force Jakub's family out of their home.

The Actions Of Jakub's Father Weren't Felt As Much

Jakub's motivations for being an astronaut were less concrete in the film

Adam Sandler wearing a space suit in a forest in Spaceman (2024). - Jakub's motivations for being an astronaut were less concrete in the film - The Actions Of Jakub's Father Weren't Felt As Much

Jakub's family faced hardship and shame after The Shoe Man scandal. This led to Jakub's grandparents passing away early, inspiring him to dream of becoming an astronaut to bring honor back to his family. However, the reasons behind his father's actions in Spaceman, which fueled Jakub's ambition, were not clearly defined, making it challenging to understand the conflict between his personal goals and his marriage to Lenka.

Jakub's Commanding Officer Intercepted Lenka's Message

In the novel, Jakub wasn't left wondering as to Lenka's feelings towards him

Isabella Rossellini as Commissioner Tuma in Spaceman (2024) - In the novel, Jakub wasn't left wondering as to Lenka's feelings towards him - Jakub's Commanding Officer Intercepted Lenka's Message

To protect Jakub's mental well-being during the risky mission, his commanding officer, Commissioner Tuma, made the decision to intercept Lenka's breakup message. This left Jakub unaware of the situation, and the lack of communication from his wife started to plant doubts in his mind. In the story, Lenka's message had a significant impact. As depicted in the film, Commissioner Tuma's actions proved to be necessary as Jakub spiraled into a state of deep depression and turned to alcohol, finding solace in his unlikely friend Hanuš, a space creature portrayed by Paul Dano.

Lenka And Jakub Weren't Speaking At The Beginning Of The Mission

Jakub's marriage started out far rockier in the Adam Sandler movie

Adam Sandler's Jakub and Carey Mulligan's Lenka sit by riverbank in Spaceman (2024) - Jakub's marriage started out far rockier in the Adam Sandler movie - Lenka And Jakub Weren't Speaking At The Beginning Of The Mission

Spaceman made the decision to anchor the plot more on Jakub and Lenka's relationship, reversing their arc in the book.

Jakub Faked His Own Death

In the novel, there was a major twist where Jakub faked his own death. This unexpected turn of events added a new layer of complexity to the story and kept readers on the edge of their seats.

The circumstances of Jakub's rescue called for drastic measures

Layered images of Adam Sandler as an astronaut in Spaceman - The circumstances of Jakub's rescue called for drastic measures - In The Novel, Jakub Faked His Own Death

Jakub And Lenka Reconciled

In the book "Spaceman of Bohemia," Jakub's rescue by a secret Russian mission led to a series of events that took him from the dangers of space to the horrors of state-sanctioned torture and interrogation. Learning of the Russians' plans for him upon his return to Earth, Jakub took matters into his own hands by sabotaging their vessel's re-entry, resulting in the death of the crew. With the help of a fellow cosmonaut who claimed to have met Hanuš, Jakub managed to escape. His miraculous survival was unknown to the world, leaving him presumed dead.

The ending of the original novel was far more bittersweet

Adam-Sandler's-Jakub,-Paul-Dano's-Hanus,-and-Carey-Mulligan's-Lenka - The ending of the original novel was far more bittersweet - Jakub And Lenka Reconciled

The film made a significant change from the source material in the ending of Spaceman. In the movie, Adam Sandler's character Jakub reconciled with his wife, bringing a happy conclusion to their marriage. However, in the novel, they remained separated even after Jakub's near-death experience. Lenka believed Jakub was dead, and although he thought about revealing himself to her one last time to say goodbye, he ultimately decided against it. Jakub believed they were both better off apart, allowing Lenka to move on and live her own life.

The Entire Last Arc Of The Book Was Left Out

Cutting The Shoe Man meant that the book's last chapters were off the table

Adam Sandler as Jakub in Spaceman (2024) looking out of helmet - Cutting The Shoe Man meant that the book's last chapters were off the table - The Entire Last Arc Of The Book Was Left Out

In the novel, Jakub discovered that The Shoe Man had become a close advisor to the Czech Prime Minister. Feeling suspicious, Jakub confronted him, convinced that Zajic was responsible for his dangerous space mission. However, they eventually reconciled when The Shoe Man chose to forgive Jakub for his father's mistakes. Jakub also found out that he was innocent all along. In the end, Jakub chose to live a quiet life on his family's farm, while Spaceman missed out on this touching conclusion.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an in-depth analysis of the differences between Adam Sandler's film "Spaceman" and its source material, Jaroslav Kalfař's novel "Spaceman of Bohemia." The film's creative approach and focus on Adam Sandler's versatility as an actor led to significant alterations in the storyline, which may have impacted the film's reception.

Overall, the article highlights the challenges of adapting a literary work to the screen, particularly when the film aims to showcase the talents of a specific actor. While the film may have taken some liberties with the original material, it still offers a unique and compelling interpretation of the story, showcasing the enduring themes of love, loss, and redemption.