The John Malkovich movie that will be released in 100 years
In most cases, being the title character in a surrealist fantasy that revolves around an unemployed puppeteer discovering a gateway into your subconscious would be the most experimental credit on any actor’s filmography, but that isn’t quite the case for John Malkovich.
Although Being John Malkovich will stand the test of time as one of his most original and unique projects, Robert Rodriguez’s 100 Years is giving it a run for its money. The sci-fi short film was shot in 2015 with Shuya Chang and Marko Zaror boarding the cast alongside Malkovich, but none of the people involved – including Rodriguez – will be able to witness an audience’s reception.
Following its completion, the only copy of 100 Years designed for public consumption was locked in a safe behind bulletproof glass, which has been scheduled to open on the day of its premiere. Unfortunately for the cast and crew, the release date isn’t until November 18th, 2115, but at least their families will be able to attend.
A thousand metal tickets were printed to survive the next century, and those lucky enough to receive one will be able to pass it down through the generations so that their descendants can take a seat for the first screening. It’s certainly ambitious, but at the end of the day, 100 Years is still essentially an alcohol promotion.
The final blend of Cognac brand Louis XIII takes 100 years to create, and having collaborated with the company on several short films, Rodriguez opted to make an advert that’s going to take a century to pay off in tribute. It’s product placement on the most ambitious of scales, then, but it’s safe to say Louis XIII will endure until release considering the history of the bespoke beverage dates back to the early 1700s.
In an interview with People, Malkovich explained his reasons for appearing in a production that he knows he won’t live to see, calling it “a very clever and fascinating concept”.
He said: “The truth is if you act in a play you never see it. I’ve certainly acted in a lot of movies I’ve never seen and a number of them I wouldn’t particularly be tempted to.”
Rodriguez referred to the story as “elegant and emotionally charged”, with Malkovich also writing the script, which he praised as being “very honest”. Plot details are being kept firmly under wraps, but suffice to say, it’ll inevitably involve bottles of Louis XIII being featured prominently throughout.
Hailing from a filmmaker known for their action-packed back catalogue of genre-driven thrillers and starring one of the most interesting actors of the modern era, 100 Years is something a lot of people would be interested in seeing for themselves. Instead, it’ll be their grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or even great-great-grandchildren who get the opportunity.
