Understanding the Timeline of Spaceman: Exploring the Time Setting

Spaceman follows Adam Sandler’s lone cosmonaut on a mission to uncover the mystery of the universe – but what year does it take place? Here’s what the director thinks.

Retro-futuristic production design is a staple of sci-fi classics, featuring elements like wall-panel video calls, cabinet-shaped robots, Zx Spectrum-esque computers, and Matrix-coded gliders.

Spaceman is a unique story, set in a world where space travel has advanced significantly. Jakub is introduced six months and 500 million kilometers into his mission to the Chopra Cloud, located near Jupiter. Despite the advanced space travel, the technology in the story, like the CzechConnect quantum phone, has a retro, arcade-like appearance from the '80s.

Interestingly, Spaceman does not take place in the distant future as we might expect. This might have been a deliberate decision by the author.

Spaceman timeline explained

Adam Sandler in Spaceman

Netflix

According to director Johan Renck, Spaceman takes place in an alternate timeline.

Renck shared in an interview with Dexerto that he finds the beauty of filmmaking in the freedom it offers. He is drawn to stories with a timeless quality, rather than those focused on current trends. He explained that the project he's working on does not take place in our timeline. The visuals have a retrospective and analog feel, making it clear that the story is not rooted in the present.

We are currently exploring space travel in a way that is not possible yet. The communication system used involves quantum mechanics, allowing instant conversations with people on Earth. In comparison, with our current technology, it would take about eight hours to receive a response after a message is sent.

Advancements in Space Communication

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I believe that the beauty of film lies in its ability to create a parallel existence where anything is possible. As long as the human experience portrayed is authentic and relatable, there is a lot of freedom in the premise, settings, and aesthetics of anime.

Spaceman is available to stream on Netflix now. You can also read our four-star review and check out our breakdown of the ending – with a big answer from Renck, too.

Editor's P/S:

The article explores the intriguing concept of Spaceman, a sci-fi film set in an alternate timeline where space travel has advanced significantly. Director Johan Renck's deliberate choice to avoid current trends and embrace a timeless quality adds a unique flavor to the story. The retro-futuristic production design, featuring advanced technology with an '80s aesthetic, creates a captivating and visually distinct world.

Spaceman's exploration of advanced space communication, such as quantum mechanics, raises questions about the potential future of space exploration. The film highlights the freedom that filmmaking offers in creating parallel existences and exploring different possibilities. By distancing itself from the present, Spaceman allows for a more imaginative and thought-provoking narrative, inviting viewers to contemplate the future of humanity in space.