Paramount Announces Bold Reimagining of a Sci‑Fi Tale, Centered on a DIY Rescue Mission
Paramount is aiming for the stars with a fresh speculative project, adapting a science fiction novella from acclaimed horror writer Grady Hendrix. The title, BadAsstronauts, is as unconventional as the premise itself: a do-it-yourself space rescue that’s as thrilling as it is offbeat.
Industry buzz places Todd Garner (Mortal Kombat II) and Adam Goldworm (My Friend Dahmer) at the helm as producers, with Hendrix serving as executive producer. No director or cast have been announced yet. The story follows Walter Reddie, a washed-up astrophysicist whose cousin becomes stranded aboard a deserted International Space Station. With official rescue efforts stalled or nonexistent, Walter constructs his own spacecraft and embarks on a high-stakes mission to save his relative from the unforgiving void of space. Along the way, he rallies a motley crew of oddballs and hopefuls who will become the first-ever BadAsstronauts. Hendrix describes the work as hard science fiction — in his own words, meaning he’s playing with scientific concepts even if some details aren’t perfectly accurate.
Who Is Grady Hendrix?
Hendrix, a Charleston, South Carolina native, broke out with Horrorstör, a novel about a haunted, IKEA-inspired store. He ranks among the world’s top-selling horror authors, closely following Stephen King in popularity. A number of Hendrix’s works have drawn interest from screen adaptations, including Horrorstör, How to Sell a Haunted House, and The Final Girl Support Group. To date, only My Best Friend’s Exorcism has reached the screen, released by Prime Video in 2022 and starring Elsie Fisher and Amiah Miller. Hendrix has also written screenplays for Mohawk and Satanic Panic.
Like many authors, Hendrix has faced changes in adaptation plans. HBO Max had tacked on The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires for development, with Danny McBride and Edi Patterson attached. However, after some time, the project paused and remains in limbo as the team reassesses its approach.
BadAsstronauts is currently in development at Paramount. Keep an eye on Collider for further updates as the project progresses.
