A new sci-fi adventure: ‘The inquest of Pilot Pirx’ heads to the big screen
A fresh take on a classic tale
In an exciting collaboration, Nafta Films and Film and Music Entertainment (FAME) are set to bring Stanislaw Lem’s novella, The Inquest of Pilot Pirx, to the silver screen. This adaptation promises to be a thrilling addition to the legacy of Lem’s work, which has previously inspired films like Solaris and His Master’s Voice.
A visionary adaptation
The screenplay for this new film has been crafted by Adrian Tchaikovsky, a celebrated British sci-fi novelist known for his award-winning series Children of Time. Tchaikovsky’s expertise in weaving intricate narratives around artificial intelligence and futuristic themes makes him the perfect choice for this project. His recent discussions at prominent events like Worldcon and the Turing Institute’s AI U.K. conference highlight his deep engagement with the subject matter.
The plot thickens
The story centers on Commander Pirx, who leads a diverse crew of half androids and half humans on a perilous rescue mission in space. The twist? None of the crew members know who is human and who is android. Pirx’s covert mission is to determine whether the androids are truly superior to humans. The stakes rise dramatically when an unknown saboteur disrupts their mission, turning the journey into a high-stakes game of survival and trust.
A legacy of support
This ambitious project has garnered significant backing from the Estonian Film Institute, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, and the Creative Europe MEDIA Program. Such support underscores the cultural and artistic value of bringing Lem’s thought-provoking narrative to a contemporary audience.
A historical perspective
Lem’s The Inquest of Pilot Pirx was previously adapted into a film by Polish director Marek Piestrak in 1979. This new adaptation aims to build on that legacy, bringing modern cinematic techniques and a fresh perspective to the timeless story.
Voices from the production
Sam Taylor, a producer known for the Oscar-nominated Before the Rain, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “We are over the moon to team up with Esko Rips and Nafta and bring the combined vision of science fiction’s two most brilliant authors to the big screen. Both writers are my personal heroes, and the deep theme of artificial intelligence set within an epic galactic setting will make the film both timely and timeless.”
Esko Rips of Nafta Films added, “Nafta Films prides itself on our story-first approach to filmmaking and could not be more thrilled to bring to life this thought-provoking tale by one of the greatest science-fiction writers of all time. Sam Taylor and the FAME team are the perfect partners with whom to bring this intelligent and dynamic story to life.”
FAME’s impressive portfolio
Since its inception in 2000, FAME has produced over 65 films. Their current projects include Kasia Adamik’s Winter of the Crow, starring Lesley Manville and Tom Burke, which is in post-production with world sales represented by HanWay Films. They are also gearing up for Young Stalin, adapted from Simon Sebag Montefiore’s book about the early years of the infamous dictator. This project is produced with Archil Gelovani at IFP and financed by Access Entertainment and the GNFC.
Nafta’s upcoming ventures
Nafta Films has an impressive slate of 18 projects, including three TV series and various feature films. They are preparing to start production on Serafima, a historical tragedy directed by Veiko Õunpuu, and Something Real, a debut feature film directed by Evar Anvelt, based on the book of the same name.
A promising future
With such a talented team and robust support, the adaptation of The Inquest of Pilot Pirx is poised to be a significant addition to the sci-fi genre. Fans of Lem’s work and newcomers alike can look forward to a film that explores profound themes of identity, technology, and humanity.
For more information and to watch the trailer, visit The Inquest of Pilot Pirx.
Adrian Tchaikovsky is represented by Simon Kavanagh and Oliver Cheetham at Mic Cheetham and Olivia Fanaro at UTA.