Sci-fi works best when it can also hit close to home. And that’s one of the appeals of Meanwhile on Earth, a new sci-fi drama from writer-director Jérémy Clapin.

The story follows Elsa, a young woman whose brother Franck vanished on a space mission. When Elsa is contacted by a power claiming it can return Franck to Earth, she’s given a mission of her own — one that will test her resolve, her morals, and just how far she’ll go to save someone she loves.

We sat down with Clapin for a deep dive into Meanwhile on Earth, covering how he landed on the film’s sci-fi story, his animation background and transition into live-action filmmaking, the work he’s most proud of, and more. Check out our full discussion with Clapin below.

About Meanwhile on Earth

Elsa (Megan Northam, in her debut feature starring role), along with her family, is struggling following the disappearance of her brother Franck, an astronaut who vanished during his first mission. While stargazing one night, Elsa is shocked to receive contact from Franck, but her joy is short-lived when she learns of the dark and troubling forces behind Franck’s reappearance, forcing her to confront the lengths she will go for the brother she once feared was gone forever.

The feature comes from writer/director Jérémy Clapin. The project is Clapin’s first feature-length live action film; he previously received an Oscar nomination for his 2019 animated feature I Lost My Body.

Meanwhile on Earth premieres in US theaters November 8.