Cynthia Erivo and Michael Bay are to collaborate on a movie adaptation of Saturation Point. This unexpected pairing brings together the acclaimed Broadway performer and the action movie maestro for their first joint project.
The 38-year-old actress has teamed up with the Transformers director, 60, for a film version of author Adrian Tchaikovsky’s 2024 sci-fi novel of the same name for Universal Pictures. Tchaikovsky is known for his award-winning science fiction works, including the critically acclaimed Children of Time.
Erivo will be producing under her Edith’s Daughter banner alongside Solome Williams, while Bay and Brad Fuller will produce through Platinum Dunes. The production company has previously delivered successful films like A Quiet Place and The Purge franchise.
Erivo’s role in a climate thriller
Saturation Point is a gripping climate thriller set in a future where parts of Earth have become so hot and humid that human survival is nearly impossible. The concept draws from real climate science, as extreme wet-bulb temperatures can indeed be fatal to humans.
When a mission goes into one of these extreme zones, Dr. Jasmine Marks (Erivo) is tasked with leading the high-stakes search and rescue effort. The character represents a departure from Bay’s typical action heroes, showcasing a more scientifically-driven narrative approach.
But the deeper she ventures, the more she realizes the dangers are far greater than expected — and her corporate employers may be hiding the truth. To make matters worse, not all intelligent life in the zone is human. This premise combines environmental themes with classic sci-fi elements that have made Tchaikovsky’s work critically acclaimed.
Minnie Schedeen is set to write the script for Saturation Point alongside Tchaikovsky, while Alex Ginno is due to executive produce for Platinum Dunes. Having the original author involved in the screenplay adaptation often leads to more faithful and nuanced film versions.
Last on the big screen as Elphaba
Erivo was last seen in the 2024 movie adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical Wicked, in which she starred as Elphaba. The film became a global phenomenon, establishing Erivo as a major Hollywood star beyond her theater achievements.
In the film, Elphaba (Erivo) forms an unlikely friendship with Glinda (Ariana Grande) and the pair travel to the Emerald City to meet with the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), only to discover he is hiding a dark secret. The movie’s success demonstrated Erivo’s versatility as both a performer and box office draw.
Erivo, Grande and Goldblum are set to reprise their respective roles in the upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good, which will adapt the second half of the Broadway musical. The sequel promises to explore deeper themes and character development.
“I think the meat of what Wicked is all about happens in movie two. To me, this is why this story exists. This is where our childhood dreams collide with our adult selves,” Director Jon M. Chu recently said in an interview with Vanity Fair, hinting that Wicked: For Good would focus and expand on the bond between Elphaba and Glinda.
“Our heart was broken when Glinda can’t make the choice that we want her to so badly at the end of movie one, and it feels empowering for Elphaba to fly away from society,” Chu said, adding that “the temperature is up” for Elphaba and Glinda, whose relationship is pushed to its breaking point thanks to the actions of the Wizard. “In movie two, we get to see the consequences of those choice.”
Wicked: For Good is also set to introduce Dorothy Gale — famously portrayed by Judy Garland in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz — though Chu stressed he had been “delicate” with the character. The inclusion of this iconic character connects the modern adaptation to cinema history.
“That intersection is the place that we were first introduced to Oz,” he said. “We tread lightly, but try to make more sense of how it impacts our girls and our characters than maybe the show does.” This careful approach demonstrates respect for the beloved source material while creating fresh storytelling opportunities for both returning and new audiences.
