Way back in 2014 (remember those days?),Charlie Kaufmanwas tappedto do a page one rewrite of an adaptation ofArthur Herzog’s novelIQ 83for Paramount, withSteve Carellattached to star. Obviously that project never materialized, but Kaufman says there’s a possibility his adaptation may yet see the light of day on HBO.
In an interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub about his upcoming Netflix filmI’m Thinking of Ending Things, Kaufman revealed that he’s currently developingIQ 83as a limited series, although he stressed that there’s no telling whether or not the show will actually get made.
“I’m developing this thing for HBO, which is a limited series about a virus that causes stupidity. And it’s based on a screenplay I wrote, which is based on a novel called IQ 83. And I’m actually developing it for them, so it’s possible that it’s going to happen, [but] I don’t know that it’s going to happen. But I’m very interested in it because of the circumstances in which we live. I’m very interested in exploring the notion of that, and treating it as kind of a metaphor.”
The novel follows Dr. James Healey, the head of a group of scientists that conducted DNA experiments which resulted in the release of an airborne disease that gradually lowers the IQ of those infected. Healey is in a race to develop a cure for the virus before succumbing to its effects himself. The premise sounds like a mix betweenIdiocracyandFlowers for Algernon, and with Kaufman behind it there’s no telling how odd and off-kilter the series might be if HBO decides to move forward with it. Kaufman has established a reputation for making films that defy easy categorization, so the potential for his version ofIQ 83to be something wholly unique and delightfully bizarre has me pretty excited.
You can check out the full clip below.I’m Thinking of Ending Thingspremiers September 4 on Netflix. For more Netflix news, check out our own Dave Trumbore’sreviewof the retro video game docuseriesHigh Score.
