Planet earth on the brink? Check. A Messiah complex that leaves the fate of the world on the shoulder of a sole individual? Check. And a female lead at the crux of the adventure? You bet. With Sony Pictures ticking all the necessary boxes for its adaptation of Rick Yancey’s sci-fi novel, it’s little wonder why the studio is aiming to massage The 5th Wave into a new YA franchise just as the likes of Maze Runner and The Divergent Series begin to enter their twilight years.
Taking point for this one is Kick-Ass starlet Chloe Grace Moretz, who is one of the few survivors of a staggered alien invasion that brings planet earth to its knees across four distinct waves. Each of these consecutive attacks effectively neuter any possible defence force that the remnants of humanity can muster, and when the imminent 5th Wave will mean the aliens assimilating with society by disguising themselves as humans, Grace Moretz’s unlikely hero scrambles to prevent total annihilation.
J. Blakeson (The Disappearance Of Alice Creed) is behind the lens for this one, and though the core plot resembles that of fellow YA adaptation The Host, itself adapted from Stephenie Meyer’s eponymous novel two years ago, we’re retaining a sense of cautious optimism going into The 5th Wave, and today’s new featurette trumpets that film’s faithfulness to Yancey’s source material.
Chloe Grace Moretz leads the charge as Cassie, while the remainder of the cast is filled out by Nick Robinson, Ron Livingston, Maggie Siff, Alex Roe, Maika Monroe, Zackary Arthur and Liev Schreiber.
Brace for impact, folks, as Sony Pictures will be hoping to pitch an all-new YA franchise when The 5th Wave looms into theaters on January 22, 2016.
Set in the present day, four waves of increasingly deadly attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, 16-year-old Cassie is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother. As she prepares for the inevitable and lethal 5th wave, Cassie meets a young man who may become her final hope.