A family, torn apart by a past tragedy, must unite and overcome internal and external conflicts to reclaim their advanced starship from a fanatic general who plans to use its unique capabilities to trigger a galactic-scale "reset" and fulfill an ancient prophecy.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Julie Sheppard
Landing Control: Val Cole
Blair: Hannah Ehman
Trice: Shawn Devlin

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?
NEXUS is a high-stakes sci-fi political thriller about a fragile galactic peace shattered when an ancient cosmic machine, responsible for erasing entire civilizations, awakens again. As two rival powers spiral toward war, a damaged but revolutionary starship, the Thermidome, becomes the last line between survival and annihilation. At its center is Commander Trice Webb, an engineer desperate to solve the mystery that consumed his brother, uncover the truth behind the catastrophic Citadel attack, and stop a fanatical general determined to trigger the universe's next "Prime Event."

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Science Fiction
Space Thriller
Political Thriller
Action-Adventure
Mystery / Conspiracy

3. Why should this screenplay be produced

NEXUS blends the cinematic sweep of The Expanse and Interstellar with the tension and layered political intrigue of Andor. It delivers spectacle without sacrificing character stakes, giving audiences a universe that feels both epic and personal. It introduces a fresh mythology, the Prime Event cycle, anchored by a diverse, emotionally rich cast and a world with franchise potential. Strong action, grounded science, and morally complex storytelling make it both commercially resonant and creatively unique.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Epic Catastrophe

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Star Wars. Did you have to ask that?

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

Off and on for 30 years. BUT: the last two years was the focus. I learned a few things and applied them world-building, story engineering, iterative drafts, and structural refinement based on coverage and competition feedback.

7. How many stories have you written?

I've written over a dozen screenplays, spanning sci-fi, thriller, crime, adventure, and psychological drama—from features like Guardrails, Frozen Lies, and The Devil's Cut to shorts and TV pilots. This has helped me develop a strong command of structure, character, suspense, and thematic clarity.

8. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

I wanted to explore how civilizations confront extinction—not through a villain, but through knowledge, and how ordinary people respond to cosmic-scale inevitability. I was inspired by the idea of a family caught between science, prophecy, and political manipulation. The emotional core—Trice trying to uncover what really happened to his brother RJ—grounds the entire saga. On a thematic level, the story examines cycles of conflict, inherited trauma, and whether we can break patterns we don't understand.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

Balancing the scope of the world with the intimacy of the characters was the biggest challenge. The political layers, military tension, and scientific mysteries all had to interlock cleanly without overwhelming the story's emotional drive. Structurally, it required multiple rewrites to ensure the mystery of the Prime Event, the Dark Corridor, and the conspiracy behind Imma's attack revealed themselves at the right pace. Finding that balance—and maintaining clarity—was both the struggle and the breakthrough.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I'm passionate about technology, space science, and real-world aerospace engineering, which heavily influences the grounded feel of my sci-fi scripts. I also love history, real-world geopolitical conflict analysis, and storytelling across film, games, and serialized formats. All of which shape the depth of the worlds I build.

11. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I entered because I'm committed to improving the craft and testing NEXUS against industry standards. Festivals offer invaluable external perspective, visibility, and potential to connect with producers seeking ambitious sci-fi projects. The initial feedback was energizing. It highlighted what was working and pinpointed areas that could become even stronger. It confirmed the script's potential while giving me a clear path to elevate the next iteration.