Sci-fi subgenres: heist, crime dramedy
Dream writer: Steve Blackman (“Umbrella Academy”)
The “Dune” of Kristen Wiig’s Dreams
Kristin (“Palm Royale”) is writing something that isn’t a comedy. She’s concerned when she pitches the concept she’ll have to defend her choice. “Dune” is the type of story she’s envisioning, but maybe with a slightly comedic take. Can she defy expectations? Of course, a far-flung “Fury Road” or “Furiosa” comes to mind, but I’m inspired by the East of West comic book. Created by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta, the saga is set in a dystopian future where the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse roam the Earth. While the comic follows Death on a quest to find his lost love, Kristin’s version might explore a different landscape. One with a matriarchal society, The Four Horsewomen of the End Times, and old west sensibilities.
Sci-fi subgenres: postapocalyptic, western
Dream director: Gina Prince-Blythewood (“The Woman King” / “The Old Guard”)
The “Dune” of Maya Rudolph’s Dreams
Partly inspired by Renée’s performance in Hamilton, Maya (“Loot”) dreams of starring on Broadway. Keeping that in mind, did you know she fronts a Prince cover band called Princess? Hold on to that trivia. Since Hollywood is fueled by connections—and “SNL” and Apple TV+ are big ones—Maya could team up with Cinco Paul from “Schmigadoon!”. Together they’d create a jukebox musical with a similar premise to “The Greatest Hits” (2024). As a mom facing an emptying nest, whenever Maya spins Prince on a childhood record player she gets transported back to pivotal eras in her life. But her past doesn’t look the way she remembers it. Everyone keeps singing their feelings and messing up her memories, forcing her to reconcile who she thought she was with who she is now. Which, of course, inspires new and original songs.
Sci-fi subgenres: musical, magical realism
Dream co-creator: Cinco Paul (“Schmigadoon!”)
The “Dune” of Quinta Brunson’s Dreams
Quinta craves the freedom to make something pure like a “Bluey,” but she also dreams of “Dune” and “Willy Wonka.” That crossroads leads to big, splashy action adventures for families. Let’s combine “The Goonies” with the Supernatural Investigations series by B. B. Alston (Amari and the Night Brothers), the story of a girl who joins a secret organization to investigate supernatural occurrences and search for her missing brother. Quinta could celebrate silliness and magic while exploring the life of a girl who discovers her power in a world that keeps shifting under her feet.
Sci-fi subgenres: children/family, coming-of-age
Dream director(s): Matthew Warchus (“Matilda: The Musical”)
Each of these “Dunes” is an easy climb if you believe what Quinta does: “All of you, I think, are the most dynamic women and you can do whatever you want…we make people laugh and they forget about how dynamic [we] actually are.”
I believe. Do you?
