Image credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix
The satirical science fiction black comedy Don’t Look Up is coming to Netflix on December 24, and Popternative was able to attend the virtual global press conference earlier this month with the cast and writer/director. Don’t Look Up follows two astronomers who go on a media tour to warn the world of an approaching comet that will destroy planet earth. It has an incredible cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchette, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Rob Morgan, Kid Cudi, Ariana Grande, Himesh Patel, Michael Chiklis, and Melanie Lynskey. Hosted by astronomer and planetary scientist Dr. Amy Mainzer, the panel consisted of Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi), Tyler Perry, Jonah Hill, Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, and writer/director/producer, Adam McKay.

Scott Mescudi and Tyler Perry at the Don’t Look Up Global Press Conference. Image courtesy of Netflix.

Leonardo DiCaprio began by summing up the film and discussing the timely subject matter, “You know, Adam created this film, which was about the climate crisis, but he created a sense of urgency with it by making it about a comet that’s going to hit Earth within six months’ time and how science has become politicized […] And then, of course, COVID hit and there was a whole new scientific argument going on there. And it was just such an important film to be a part of at this particular time.” Tyler Perry also echoed this sentiment, “What I find fascinating about this movie and him [Adam McKay] writing it, it seems so prophetic to see where we are right now with NASA sending a rocket to try and knock a comet off course.”

Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, and Adam McKay at the Don’t Look Up Global Press Conference. Image courtesy of Netflix.

The panel also took specific questions from journalists and press, and Popternative’s question was the first one asked: What is the mindset going into a film that’s talking about such a serious, real life issue, through the lens of comedy? How do you pull that off? Adam McKay explained: ” I think we were talking about the idea we wanted to deal with, this subject, the climate crisis, which is so overwhelming and it’s arguably the greatest threat to life in the history of mankind. It can just be overwhelming. But if you’re able to laugh, that means you have some distance, and I actually think that’s really important. You can feel urgency and you can feel sadness and you can feel loss, while also having a sense of humor.” He also added, “I did think it was important that people be allowed to laugh and have some distance. It’s also a great unifier too. You can’t really fake laughter. It’s not a political thing.”

Jonah Hill, Meryl Streep, and Leonardo DiCaprio at the Don’t Look Up Global Press Conference. Image courtesy of Netflix.

Don’t Look Up will be available to stream on Netflix as of December 24. For more on the film, check out www.netflix.com/dontlookup.

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