Safety Not Guaranteed is playing in limited release right now, and it’s easily one of my favorite movies of the year. The low-fi time travel film has a great script, a big heart, and excellent performances from stars Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, and Karan Soni. The director, Colin Trevorrow, and the writer, Derek Connolly, are moving on to their next gig, a similar low-fi endeavor called The Ambassador. Hit the jump for more info.
Deadline reports that The Ambassador is an original screenplay that they both will write and Trevorrow will direct.
The film is set in the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, which not only monitors the universe for signs of life but is prepared to represent humanity if and when aliens arrive on earth. A shy, low-ranking staffer unwittingly makes first contact when he meets a mysterious beautiful woman and must risk more than his job when they are threatened by forces of this world and beyond.
Could Safety Not Guaranteed star Aubrey Plaza reteam with these filmmakers as the mysterious beautiful woman? It’s certainly possible, and I’d actually love to see Karan Soni (who plays Arnau in Safety) take the lead role this time around. He was fantastic in the film, and could use another indie hit to bolster his reputation before he (hopefully) makes the jump to supporting roles in Apatow movies.
Thank God these guys are sticking with original concepts and not jumping onto big budget studio sequels or remakes. It makes me feel better knowing that there are indie filmmakers out there working on exciting material who don’t sell out after their first shot at the big time.
