Netflix Is Making Sci-Fi History With Its First Philip K. Dick Series

Philip K. Dick has written some of the weirdest and philosophically dense sci-fi stories. Yet, despite the anti-cinematic nature of his works, many of his books and stories have been picked up for adaptations. Among them, some of the better ones are Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, Richard Linklater’s A Scanner Darkly, and Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report.

On the small screen, Prime Video’s The Man in the High Castle ranks among the better Philip K. Dick adaptations. Following Prime Video’s lead, Netflix is all set to deliver its first Philip K. Dick TV series. Titled The Future is Ours, the upcoming sci-fi series is based on one of the strangest and lesser-known stories written by the author.

Although the Netflix sci-fi show does not have a fixed release window yet, reports suggest its production is in full swing. Owing to this, it could eye a 2027 release. What makes The Future Is Ours particularly intriguing is that it is daring to bring one of Philip K. Dick’s most ambitious and obscure stories to the screen.

Netflix’s The Future Is Ours Adapts One Of The Most Obscure Philip K. Dick Stories

The upcoming Netflix sci-fi series, The Future Is Ours, is based on Philip K. Dick’s The World Jones Made. Published in 1956, The World Jones Made, introduces foundational sci-fi ideas surrounding determinism, free will, and precognition that later run rampant in other popular stories by the author. As reports suggest, Netflix’s adaptation is giving the original story a contemporary twist.

Netflix is making history by delivering the first big adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s The World Jones Made. However, the streaming service is achieving this feat with a few questionable changes. While the original book unfolds in the wake of a nuclear war in 2002, the Netflix sci-fi show will be set in 2047 South America amidst severe ecological collapse.

Like the book, the Netflix show, too, will introduce an authoritarian coalition called FedSur, which will impose extreme ecological and social controls. This is when a preacher, Jonás Flores, will emerge, serving as the show’s counterpart to the book’s titular Floyd Jones. His ability to see the future will put him at odds with FedSur, unfolding a gripping game of cat-and-mouse.

Instead of being an exploration of the paradox of a liberal and anti-dogmatic state like the book, the Netflix show is focusing on eco-fascism and state survivalism. While this makes the series more relevant for the times, it also risks making it too different from the source material.

The Netflix show is also removing some of the more “weirdly fantastical” story beats from the book that revolve around an alien species and Venus Colonization. These changes could significantly harm the show, but Netflix’s efforts to adapt a complex Philip K. Dick story are commendable.

Netflix’s The Future Is Ours Is The First Spanish Philip K. Dick Series

Another historical milestone that Netflix’s The Future Is Ours (El futuro es nuestro) is achieving is that it is the first Spanish-language adaptation of a Philip K. Dick work. Led by showrunner Mateo Gil and produced by K&S Films and Electric Shepherd Productions, The Future is Ours has immense potential because of Netflix’s recent Spanish adaptations.

In recent years, the streaming service has delivered incredible Latin American book-to-screen adaptations like The Eternaut and One Hundred Years of Solitude. Both shows were also renewed for new seasons, which spells hope for The Future is Ours.

Given how the upcoming Philip K. Dick adaptation on Netflix is taking some massive creative leaps, it is hard not to be a little skeptical about it. However, most sci-fi adaptations of the author’s works, including Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, have taken the same approach and still succeeded.

Netflix is a global streaming service offering on-demand access to movies, TV shows, documentaries, and original content. Founded in 1997 as a DVD rental service, it transitioned to streaming in 2007 and now operates in over 190 countries.