Introducing Endless Mode: A New Games & Anime Site from Paste
Glen Powell spent 2024 securing his legacy as an A-list star who consistently works with major directors, so it’s fitting that his next project is a film about eternal life directed by an Oscar winner. Per Deadline, Powell has officially signed on to lead Barry Jenkins’ next major studio outing, an “elevated sci-fi thriller” about the pursuit of immortality called The Natural Order. Not much else is known about the plot as of this writing.
The film will be adapted from an unpublished manuscript by Matt Aldrich. That’s a little unusual, but less so considering Aldrich also penned the screenplay for Disney’s Coco. Jenkins, Powell, and Aldrich have reportedly been developing the project for “some time” now, but only recently took it to market. Sources tell the trade Universal preemptively secured the rights to Aldrich’s forthcoming novel of the same name sometime last week.
Powell has been quite busy lately. His recent credits include Twisters, Anyone But You, Hit Man, and the upcoming Hulu series Chad Powers. He’s also set to star in Edgar Wright’s The Running Man and an upcoming film from J.J. Abrams opposite Jenna Ortega and Emma Mackey. The Natural Order will be the first film he produces under his new Barnstorm banner for Universal.
Jenkins is also having a great year. His Mufasa: The Lion King live-action prequel for Disney has spent the past 12 weeks in the top 10 at the domestic box office, and just crossed the $700 million mark worldwide, per Box Office Mojo. He previously directed Best Picture winner Moonlight, Oscar nominee If Beale Street Could Talk, and Golden Globe-winning limited series Underground Railroad.
