From Wicked witches to deadly climate zones, Cynthia Erivo is stepping into new sci-fi territory this time alongside explosion maestro Michael Bay. Universal Pictures is officially adapting Saturation Point, the 2024 novel by acclaimed British sci-fi author Adrian Tchaikovsky, with Erivo set to star and produce.
The project has all the ingredients of a potential blockbuster franchise: a hostile alien climate, corporate conspiracy, and first contact with a non-human intelligence. Think Annihilation meets The Abyss, with a healthy dose of Michael Bay-style chaos.
The Plot: Heat, Humidity, and Horror
Set in the near future, Saturation Point explores a world where extreme climate change has rendered part of the Earth nearly uninhabitable. Inside this volatile “hot zone” is Dr. Jasmine Marks, a fearless scientist leading a dangerous search-and-rescue mission.
But what begins as a humanitarian effort spirals into a deadly mystery. The zone may hold secrets about life, death, and evolution and not all intelligent life inside is human. Add some shady corporate oversight to the mix, and you’ve got a high-concept thriller with massive potential.
- Cynthia Erivo will lead the film and produce under her banner, Edith’s Daughter, alongside Solome Williams.
- Michael Bay and Brad Fuller of Platinum Dunes (The Purge, A Quiet Place) will also produce.
- Minnie Schedeen, a rising genre screenwriter with projects at Amazon MGM and New Line, is adapting the novel for screen.
- Alex Ginno executive produces for Platinum Dunes.
- Universal Pictures is overseeing development with production execs Ryan Jones and Christine Sun.
The Team Behind the Project
Erivo, fresh off her Oscar-nominated performance as Elphaba in Wicked, is riding high, and this intense, cerebral sci-fi project could showcase a completely new side of her.
The Source: Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Sci-Fi Cred
Author Adrian Tchaikovsky is no stranger to rich, thought-provoking worldbuilding. Known for his Children of Time series and winner of the Arthur C. Clarke and BSFA Awards, Tchaikovsky blends complex sci-fi concepts with pulse-pounding action.
His Saturation Point novel delivers a chilling warning about climate change and unchecked capitalism ideal territory for a high-stakes cinematic adaptation.
Why It Matters
This is more than just another sci-fi thriller. With Universal eyeing a franchise opportunity, Saturation Point could launch a new cinematic universe of survival, evolution, and climate horror—something rarely explored at this scale.
And with Platinum Dunes’ horror-action pedigree and Erivo’s undeniable star power, this adaptation is one to watch.