Imagine a world where humanity had evolved past the point of needing sleep. You could truly make the most of every single day. Do that thing you always wanted to do. Sounds pretty great, right? Well, it might not be all that’s cracked up to be. When would your mind find peace? When would you dream? These are questions that will be asked in Justin Kurzel’s upcoming film, Morning, which will star Laura Dern, A Quiet Place‘s Noah Jupe, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Set in the near future, Morning is set in a world that has moved beyond sleep thanks to a new pill. There’s also an artificial sun. Here’s how Variety describes the plot:
Ambitious Cathy (played by Dern) is an early proponent of the new normal – until the death of her husband Frank (Cumberbatch). As her sleepless world crumbles around her, her memories began impinging on her waking hours. Meanwhile her son Danny (Jupe), part of a new generation that has grown up without ever sleeping, is drawn into a “subversive underworld of dreamers” who begin to rebel in an attempt to reclaim their dreams. Cathy must fight to reclaim her son and confront her nightmares.
Cumberbatch will appear in a supporting role, with Dern and Jupe leading the way. Sam Steiner wrote the screenplay.
Kurzel has rebounded nicely from the Assassin’s Creed flop. In 2019 he directed The True History of the Kelly Gang, and his latest, the Caleb Landry Jones-led biographical thriller Nitram, was nominated for a Palme d’Or. Morning will find him reunited with Assassin’s Creed cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, and Nitram costume designer Alice Babidge.
