The Future Was Now

Madmen, Mavericks, and the Epic Sci-Fi Summer of 1982

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by Chris Nashawaty

Type: Studies
Subject: Genre > Science Fiction
Keywords: science fiction, 1980s
Publishing date: 2025 (July 29, 2025) (Upcoming)
Publisher: Flatiron Books
1st publishing: 2024 (July 30, 2024)
Language: English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 304 pages
5 ¼ x 8 ¼ inches (13.5 x 21 cm)

ISBN

978-1-250-82707-4

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Book Presentation:
“Hollywood boldly went where it hadn’t gone before and Nashawaty chronicles the journeys.” ―Los Angeles Times ("Books You Need To Read This Summer")

“Written with a fan’s enthusiasm . . . An important inflection point in Hollywood filmmaking.” ―New York Times ("Nonfiction Books to Read This Summer")

In the summer of 1982, eight science fiction films were released within six weeks of one another. E.T., Tron, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, Conan the Barbarian, Blade Runner, Poltergeist, The Thing, and Mad Max: The Road Warrior changed the careers of some of Hollywood's now biggest names―altering the art of movie-making to this day.

In The Future Was Now, Chris Nashawaty recounts the riotous genesis of these films, featuring an all-star cast of Hollywood luminaries and gadflies alike: Steven Spielberg, at the height of his powers, conceives E.T. as an unlikely family tale, and quietly takes over the troubled production of Poltergeist, a horror film he had been nurturing for years. Ridley Scott, fresh off the success of Alien, tries his hand at an odd Philip K. Dick story that becomes Blade Runner―a box office failure turned cult classic. Similar stories arise for films like Tron, Conan the Barbarian, and The Thing. Taken as a whole, these films show a precarious turning-point in Hollywood history, when baffled film executives finally began to understand the potential of high-concept films with a rabid fanbase, merchandising potential, and endless possible sequels.

Expertly researched, energetically told, and written with an unabashed love for the cinema, The Future Was Now is a chronicle of how the revolution sparked in a galaxy far, far away finally took root and changed Hollywood forever.

About the Author:
Chris Nashawaty is a writer, editor, and former Entertainment Weekly film critic. He is the author of Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story and his work has appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Vanity Fair. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his family.

Press Reviews:
Praise for
Chris Nashawaty’s
The Future Was Now

"Eight sci-fi adventures were released that summer, and Nashawaty expertly covers their behind-the-scenes conflicts and (not surprising) ego clashes. Hollywood boldly went where it hadn’t gone before and Nashawaty chronicles the journeys." ―Los Angeles Times

"Written with a fan’s enthusiasm . . . An important inflection point in Hollywood filmmaking." ―New York Times

"An absolute must read." ―Booklist (starred review)

"An exemplary film history." ―Kirkus(starred review)

"Entertaining. . . . The behind the scenes stories will make readers feel like they’ve stepped on a set." ―Publishers Weekly

"The Future Was Now takes us back to what now seems like an inconceivable moment in movie history―a summer in which eight sci-fi classics (well, seven plus Conan the Barbarian!) were released in rapid succession. Chris Nashawaty’s book is a vital, smart and energizing look at the electrifying combination of forces that got those movies made. It should be read not just by movie lovers but by anyone in Hollywood with the power to say yes." ―Mark Harris, author of Pictures at a Revolution and Mike Nichols

"Here's the spiritual sequel to Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: a clear-eyed chronicle about how the blips, bleeps, backstabbing and budget-blowing of a post-Star Wars Hollywood came to a head, and, for one fleeting, crazy summer, it seemed like the future of movies was as bright as the stars." ―Sean Howe, New York Times bestselling author of Agents of Chaos and the Eisner Award-winning Marvel Comics

"A ripping narrative that takes you on a wild ride through the events, players, and surprising drama that culminate in a string of paradigm-shifting films. The Future Was Now is an indispensable resource for filmmakers and fans alike. This record of the big swings Hollywood used to take is the kind of history we need to see repeated. As Nashawaty illustrates time and again, show business collapses when it’s not personal and led by artists." ―Eric Heisserer, Academy-award nominated writer of Arrival and creator of Netflix's Shadow & Bone

"I’ve been a major fan of Chris Nashawaty’s writing for 30 years now. So it’s a thrill to see him delve into the fascinating stories of these eight classics from 1982 with his typical intelligence, wit, and passion. This book is a must for all of us ‘80s kids, as well as anyone who wants to know what it was like to be one." ―Dave Karger, Turner Classic Movies host and author of 50 Oscar Nights