Miranda Otto stands by a window and smiles at something off screen in 'War of the Worlds'
A collective wonder and intrigue with the universe and galaxy beyond our own has long been an obsession for humankind. Even before we began sending astronauts into space all those decades ago, our fascination with the stars has captivated even the earliest versions of our species.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder that the mysticism and fixation of space has become such a source of inspiration for authors, filmmakers, and composers. In the late 1800s, H.G. Wells released one of the greatest pieces of science fiction when he penned the novel The War of the Worlds. The story behind the book was a simple but brilliant one as it followed the invasion of Earth by Martians who were not only smarter than humans, but also much more developed. In the years that would follow, Wells’ work of fiction became a must-read for anyone remotely interested in the sci-fi genre. It also became a catalyst for chaos when, in 1938, Orson Welles read the book as an installment for CBS Radio Network’s The Mercury Theatre on the Air. The Citizen Kane director’s depiction of the terrifying tale was enough to send folks over the edge as many flew into a panic believing the events were happening in real time. Just a little over a decade later, Byron Haskin would unleash the first on-screen adaptation with the Gene Barry and Ann Robinson-led The War of the Worlds, which became the first of many feature-length productions based on Wells’ novel. While so many of these adaptations are worth checking out, one of them will soon leave our world behind when it bows off Pluto TV at the beginning of next month. Over the next few weeks, we’d urge you to set some time aside and stream Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, which features Tom Cruise in a leading role. Putting a different spin on the original book, Spielberg’s take centers on Ray Ferrier , a dockworker living in New York City, who is hoping to rebuild the strained relationship with his two kids after their mother drops them off for the weekend. Instead, an alien invasion rocks the planet to its core, with Ray immediately snapping into protection mode to ensure he and his children find their way to safety. Who Else Starred in ‘War of the Worlds’? With Cruise leading the charge in the nail-biting action flick, numerous other familiar faces gather to take on the extraterrestrial threat in War of the Worlds, including a very young Dakota Fanning in one of her earliest roles. Additionally, the ensemble includes Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins, Lisa Ann Walter, Rick Gonzales, and more. CL Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters Dive into the world of entertainment with Collider, delivering the latest news, reviews, and exclusive updates from movies, TV, and pop culture Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Head over to Pluto TV before March 1 to stream War of the Worlds completely free of charge. War of The Worlds Like Follow Followed PG-13 Action Science Fiction Thriller Release Date June 29, 2005 Runtime 116 Minutes Director Steven Spielberg Writers Josh Friedman, David Koepp, H.G. Wells Cast See All
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