Chiwetel Ejiofor has just landed a role that is truly out of this world. The Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star has just been confirmed to take on the lead role in Paramount+'s upcoming adaptation of The Man Who Fell To Earth.
Deadline confirms that Ejiofor has been cast as Thomas Jerome Newton, the alien who lands on Earth. The role was originally played by the late David Bowie in the 1976 adaptation directed by Nicolas Roeg.
Ejiofor's casting is truly a welcome one considering that he has already proven he could take on any charismatic role. Before he played Karl Mordo in 2016's Doctor Strange, Ejiofor received several nominations and a BAFTA win for his performance in 12 Years A Slave. He will return as Mordo in Doctor Strange 2.
The series adaptation of The Man Who Fell To Earth was first confirmed back in 2019 and will be developed by StarTrek's Alex Kurtzman.
In the Walter Tevis book and the 1976 adaptation, Thomas was looking for a way to bring his people to Earth from his home planet which is suffering from a severe drought. However, in the new show, the character "arrives on Earth at a turning point in human evolution" and decides to confront his own past to determine the future of mankind.
It's an interesting new take on the novel and offers a different side of Thomas' story. Needless to say, we can't wait to see Ejiofor taking on the iconic role soon.
The Man Who Fell To Earth has not yet been given an official production start date or release date although it is confirmed to air on Paramount+. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.
Related: The Man Who Fell To Earth Gets Series Order On CBS All Access
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Fantasy & Science Fiction