In the upcoming sci-fi thriller Things Will Be Different, director Michael Felker takes audiences on a mind-bending journey through time, family bonds, and the mysteries of the universe. The film, set to premiere later this year, follows estranged siblings Joseph (Adam David Thompson) and Sidney (Riley Dandy) as they flee to an abandoned farmhouse after a botched robbery, only to find themselves trapped in a different time by a cryptic metaphysical force.
A Story Born from Personal Inspiration
For Felker, the film is more than just a sci-fi adventure—it’s a deeply personal project. “I wanted to tell a story that my father could have a good time with,” Felker shared in an interview. Initially, the director had planned to make a different film, Timeshare, inspired by his grandmother’s life on their family farm during the pandemic. However, after realizing the story didn’t resonate with his intended audience, he pivoted to Things Will Be Different, a time-travel tale infused with elements of his own life.
“I looped around to the very beginning,” Felker explained. “I took bits and pieces from Timeshare and other scripts I had left behind and pitched my dad a new idea for a movie. We talked about it for hours, and finally, I wrote a draft in six weeks.”
A Love Letter to Sci-Fi and Time Travel
Felker’s passion for sci-fi and time-travel stories is evident throughout the film. Drawing inspiration from classics like The Matrix, Back to the Future, and 12 Monkeys, as well as video games and books, Things Will Be Different combines heady concepts with grounded, character-driven storytelling. “Science fiction is my favorite genre now, and time-travel is the most fun sub-genre in sci-fi,” Felker said. “It plays with non-linear storytelling techniques in a linear format.”
The film’s dialogue-driven approach and minimal use of special effects set it apart from typical sci-fi fare. “The best sci-fi films center around discussion, theorizing, and trying to reach for the unknown,” Felker noted. “Seeing sci-fi done on a small, grounded scale makes us realize how vast the world and universe can be just beyond your front door.”
At the heart of the film is the relationship between Joseph and Sidney, a dynamic inspired by Felker’s own estrangement from his sister. “We grew up very close, but as adults, we drifted apart,” he shared. “I wanted to explore that guilt and the promise to be more involved in each other’s lives, even when old habits die hard.”
This personal connection is symbolized in the film through matching tattoos, a nod to the matching Triforce tattoos Felker and his sister share. “It’s a beautifully simple way of feeling closer to my sister at the drop of a hat,” he said. “That’s why I included matching tattoos in the movie—to show they’re still together even when they’re far apart.”
A Farmhouse Steeped in History
The film’s primary setting, an abandoned farmhouse, was originally intended to be shot at Felker’s family farm in Mendon, Michigan. However, logistical challenges led the production to Fremont, Indiana, where the Mill District Wedding venue provided the perfect backdrop. “We ended up with a location even better than the farm we started out with,” Felker said. The team even brought furniture and artwork from the family farm to incorporate into the set, honoring their legacy in the production design.
Lessons Learned and Hopes for the Film
Making Things Will Be Different taught Felker the importance of collaboration and humility. “Even the smallest of movies require so much work,” he reflected. “You have to trust in collaborators to make the vision even better than you could on your own. I want my cast and crew to feel as proud and have as much ownership in the movie as I do.”
Felker hopes audiences will walk away from the film with a sense of wonder and a desire to dive deeper into its mysteries. “I made a movie designed to be watched multiple times,” he said. “It’s a heady movie where you won’t pick up everything the first time around, but you’ll have a blast watching it. Hopefully, it’ll compel you to watch it again and piece together more of the world we’ve created.”
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