Parable Of The Sower - What We Know So Far

The science fiction genre, while historically dominated by white men, has seen plenty of groundbreaking works by BIPOC creators. From N.K. Jemisin's hugely popular "Broken Earth" trilogy, which landed a seven-figure movie deal earlier this year, to Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr.'s popular sci-fi horror film "Black Box," Black writers, producers, and directors have more than proven their capacity to create new, relevant sci-fi entertainment. 

Now, Afrofuturism icon and sci-fi legend Octavia Butler's earth-shattering novel "Parable of the Sower" is headed to the big screen by way of A24 (via Deadline). Butler's works, which include the "Patternist" series, "Kindred," and dozens of short stories, have been translated in at least 12 different languages and continue to be taught in college courses to this day — meaning the announcement of a "Parable of the Sower" adaptation is a long time coming. It's a project that should have sci-fi fans everywhere excited.

Here's everything we know so far about the release date, cast, and plot of "Parable of the Sower."

There's no information right now about the expected production schedule or premiere date for "Parable of the Sower." According to Deadline, A24 recently won the rights to the famous science fiction novel that was originally published in 1993, and it's sure to be at least a couple of years before the film premieres.

Though "Parable of the Sower" came out over two decades ago, it finally made the New York Times Best Seller's List last year (via The Root) — likely due to the eerily familiar and relevant descriptions of climate change at the heart of its story. Butler has received other accolades throughout her illustrious career as well. She's won the Nebula, Hugo, and Solstice Awards, was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and became the first science fiction author to win a MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Grant. To top it all off, she received the PEN American Center Lifetime Achievement Award in Writing in 2000 (per Butler's personal website), further cementing her legacy as a writer.

We're happy to wait as long as necessary to ensure "Parable of the Sower" is done right, and with its confirmed director and producer at the helm, things are already looking great.

The cast of "Parable of the Sower" has not been announced yet, so everything is just speculation at this point. That said, since the plot of the novel centers around a large cast, there's sure to be a wide range of talented stars in the film. The fact that it's an A24 project also has fans excited, since the studio has a history of producing visually stunning and acclaimed films like "False Positive" and "Minari," as well as culturally relevant projects like "The Farewell" and "Moonlight."

Garrett Bradley, the filmmaker who produced and directed the Academy Award-nominated "Time," is set to direct "Parable of the Sower," which according to Deadline will mark her first feature at a major studio. "Time" won Bradley the directing award at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. documentary category — making her the first Black woman to win the coveted award (via Essence) — so it seems like "Parable of the Sower" is in good hands. Paul Mezey, a producer known for "Maria Full of Grace" and "Beasts of the Southern Wild," is also set to produce the upcoming film.

"Parable of the Sower" is one of Octavia Butler's most well-known novels. The first installment in a two-book series, "Parable of the Sower" is set in the not-too-distant future and begins in the year 2024. It follows a young woman named Lauren Oya Olamina who has a condition called hyper-empathy, which makes her physically affected by others' emotions. Lauren lives with her siblings and Baptist pastor father just outside of Los Angeles in a gated community that isolates her and her neighbors from the poverty and suffering of the rest of the world.

Lauren eventually starts to establish her own belief system known as Earthseed, and as she and her community face unspeakable tragedy, Lauren has to learn to navigate the dangerous world around her all while discovering a new way forward for humankind. As described on the MacArthur Foundation's website, "Parable of the Sower" explores complex topics like "the environment, technology, theology, and metaphysics," as well as matters of race and social inequality.

In a time where we're seeing devastating wildfires, floods, and the continuation of a horrific pandemic, "Parable of the Sower" is a timely reminder of the worst-case scenario if the climate crisis continues to be ignored, and its adaptation is sure to be an enthralling film.