Entertainment
The Most Important Sci-Fi Novel Deserves A Major Modern Adaptation
By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated
When I went to Disney World as a kid, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was my favorite ride, and for 20 minutes, which is an eternity compared to modern park rides, I got to live my childhood dream of sailing with Captain Nemo on board the Nautilus. The ride was shut down in 1994 and replaced by The Little Mermaid. It’s now 30 years later, and Jules Verne’s classic novel still has no presence in Disney parks and, worse, has yet to receive a modern movie adaptation despite being the novel that helped launch the entire sci-fi genre.
The Book That Popularized Sci-Fi
Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was a massive success upon its release in 1869 when it was first serialized, and then again in 1871, when an illustrated version hit bookstores worldwide. As with most classic works of science fiction, Verne took a futurist perspective on submarines when coming up with the Nautilus, Captain Nemo’s advanced submarine that he used to terrorize shipping lanes. Yet, considering Nemo’s motivations as a pure man of science and a lover of nature, Verne unintentionally created the first eco-terrorist.
On the surface, the novel is a sci-fi adventure, but dig a little deeper, and there are references to the political turmoil of the time, the impact of the Industrial Revolution, and how the natural world is becoming forever tarnished. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea has a lot going on under the surface, but instead of making it hard to adapt, it would help make it easy and relevant even today, nearly 150 years after it was first published. That makes it even more astonishing that the last time anyone adapted the novel into a movie was 70 years ago.
The Last Major Movie Adaptation
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, released in 1954 by Walt Disney, starred Kirk Douglas as harpooner Ned Land, and one of Hollywood’s classic leading men, George Mason, ass Captain Nemo, was a smash hit, and while box office numbers for back then are hard to come by, estimates put it around $8 million earned in four years, or $91 million if adjusted for inflation. That puts it at almost double of Joker 2’s domestic box office total.
Mixing parts of The Mysterious Island, the underappreciated sequel novel, with the original novel, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the film is still a faithful, for 1954’s sensibilities at least, adaptation of the groundbreaking story. Nemo’s rough, nihilistic edges are softened somewhat, but Mason does a fantastic job of the complex character who is both a hero and a villain, depending on who you ask.
Nautilus Means Well But Falls Short
Despite the lack of a modern movie adaptation, which makes no sense given the success of the 1954 film, the BBC adapted 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for the new series Nautilus, which is well-intentioned and wonderfully acted but misses the point. The modern series is an origin story for Nemo and the iconic sub, altering his book origins as a fallen Indian prince to make him a slave under the employ of the East India Company, the go-to villain for 19th-century naval adventures.
Instead of being a man of science who considers himself above the turmoil of the world of man, Nemo, played by Star Trek: Discovery’s Shazad Latif, in Nautilus starts out on a quest for revenge against the British corporation, which mostly works, but again, it’s not really Nemo. He’s a haunted and broken man, but as a huge fan of the 1954 film and the original novel, there’s something missing, as it is a prequel, that could be on purpose, and at least someone is trying to tell this story today, even if it deserves a bigger stage.
We Need An IMAX Spectacle
Imagine a blockbuster 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea playing on an IMAX screen. All of the gorgeous underwater vistas of the Pacific combined with the sheer terror of the deep water giant squid, storms on the surface, and tropical islands glistening in the ocean, it’s a story that should be told in the biggest format possible. We deserve a new version of Jules Verne’s groundbreaking story that finally does justice to his original vision.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
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Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
