Sometimes when mankind faces total annihilation, the one hero who can save us from extinction lives… in the past. You know, sort of like in The Terminator. This tricky problem also comes into play in Hulu‘s upcoming series Future Man, with the additional challenge that this new global savior is also a total moron. But just because humanity’s best hope might not live up to the lofty big screen standards of the typical time-traveling hero, that doesn’t mean he—and the show—have forgotten about the films that inspired his story.
In this behind-the-scenes-featurette, “The Art of Homage,” for Hulu’s new action sci-fi comedy starring Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games), the show’s cast and creators talk about how the series is influenced by and pays tribute to classic films like Terminator, The Matrix, Star Wars, True Lies, Lethal Weapon, Back to the Future, Mad Max, and even Austin Powers.
Note: The following video contains some NSFW language.
As you can see in the trailer, Hutcherson plays “a janitor by day/world-ranked gamer by night” who is suddenly called upon to save humanity after being visited by a team of mysterious time-travelers. What with the tremendous stakes and ample pop culture references, Future Man sort of feels like Stranger Things or Ready Player One by way of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.
Future Man also stars Eliza Coupe (Happy Endings, Scrubs), Derek Wilson (Preacher), Ed Begley Jr. (St. Elsewhere), and the late Glenne Headly (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Dick Tracy, Don Jon), and all episodes will be available on Hulu on November 14th.
And we don’t need time travel to know we’re excited for the show.
What other Hollywood movies does the show look like it is inspired by? Reference your thoughts in our comments below.
Images: HULU
More in time travel!
- Why Harry Potter’s time travel makes so much sense
- Netflix’s Dark combines time travel and a missing persons mystery
- How 12 Monkeys plays with time travel better than anyone
