Biosphere - What We Know So Far

In late August, Variety announced that a new sci-fi movie titled "Biosphere" was on the way. Not only have the film's leads been revealed (if you're a fan of "This Is Us" or "The Morning Show," you're going to love this news), but the site also shared some intriguing details about the production. Filming on "Biosphere" has already been completed, which makes it all the more attention-grabbing that prospective viewers are just now hearing about it.

"Biosphere" is directed by Mel Eslyn, who makes her feature directorial debut with the flick. Previously, Eslyn directed episodes of HBO's "Room 104" and served as a producer on projects that include Netflix's "Horse Girl" starring Alison Brie and Hulu documentary "Sasquatch." Eslyn is also a co-writer on "Biosphere" alongside her Duplass Brothers Productions colleague Mark Duplass, who wears a few hats on the project.

Here's what we know so far about "Biosphere," including the release date, cast, and plot.

The Mel Eslyn-directed "Biosphere" does not yet have a release date. What's encouraging here is that Variety's report for "Biosphere" noted filming has wrapped on the project and that talent and literary agency ICM Partners will take charge of worldwide sales efforts. This means "Biosphere" is likely ready for a distribution plan, with a launch target determined swiftly thereafter. 

If "Biosphere" does find a distributor in the coming months, we'll have a better idea of the schedule and possibly even the release strategy for the movie. If, for example, "Biosphere" gets picked up by a major studio, then you can likely expect, at the earliest, a 2022 theatrical release. Similarly, if "Biosphere" lands in the lap of a smaller distributor, you could see something along the lines of a combined theatrical and VOD release plan set for late 2021.

Only two actors have been announced for the cast of "Biosphere": Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass. Although Variety's report named the A-listers as the leads of the upcoming movie, there are no details about the characters they play. No other actors have been announced for "Biosphere," which could mean the new movie will simply be a two-hander between Brown and Duplass, or more casting announcements will be revealed at a later date.

Brown is likely best known to audiences as one of the key players on NBC's generational drama "This Is Us." The beloved actor has played the major character Randall Pearson on the series since its debut in 2016. Brown has also popped up in limited and supporting TV roles on shows like "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," and the first season of "American Crime Story." He has also proven he has incredible range through his movie roles, which span a number of genres and see him tackling an equally wide variety of personas. Notable turns from Brown include his performances in "Hotel Artemis," "Black Panther," and "The Predator."

Starring opposite Brown is Duplass, an equally skilled actor, as well as seasoned writer, director, and producer. As a performer, Duplass may be recognizable to viewers from his mumblecore performances in early '00s flicks "The Puffy Chair" and "Humpday." Duplass has since gone on to appear in high-profile studio releases like "Zero Dark Thirty," "The Lazarus Effect," and "Tully," as well as indie features like "The One I Love," "Safety Not Guaranteed," and "Creep." Currently, Duplass appears on Apple TV+ series "The Morning Show" in the key supporting role of Chip Black.

Although filming on "Biosphere" has wrapped, no plot details have been released about the intriguing new project. "Biosphere" does not appear to be adapted from a novel or other source material, nor does it seem to be a remake or based on pre-existing IP. Granted, "Biosphere" could reveal itself to be an adaptation, remake, or drawing on a well-known source when its first poster, trailer, or the movie itself is released. Until that happens, all we have to go on when it comes to the plot is vague guesses based on the one clue revealed so far: the genre.

Per Variety, "Biosphere" is classified as a sci-fi movie. Science fiction can overlap with any number of genres, which still leaves the door open on what the look and feel of "Biosphere" will be. For example, when you hear "sci-fi horror," you might think of the "Alien" franchise, but if you hear "sci-fi thriller," you might think of a movie like "Ex Machina." Basically, the possibilities for the kind of story "Biosphere" will tell are still numerous, so even knowing it's a sci-fi tale is just one small step toward uncovering more about the movie. Luckily for prospective audiences, Duplass and Brown have both appeared in genre-specific projects before, which likely means that no matter what kind of sci-fi story they're plunged into in "Biosphere," they'll perform masterfully.