GRAVITY and the two degrees of separation
I’ve been receiving a number of emails from readers, congratulating me on the new movie GRAVITY, which they believe is based on my book with the same title. The film is slated to go into production next year, to be director by Alfonso Cuaron from a script written by his son. Here’s a description of the Cuaron project:
“‘Gravity’ will highlight a female astronaut’s efforts to return home to Earth and her daughter as she is stranded on a space station after satellite debris slams into it and wipes out the rest of the crew.”
And here’s the description of my book, Gravity, which was published in 1999:
From Publishers Weekly
Gerritsen (Bloodstream) meshes medical suspense and the world of space travel in another nail-biting tale of genetic misadventure. Much of this scary thriller is set aboard the International Space Station, where a team of six astronauts suddenly find themselves threatened by a virulent biohazard… As astronaut Emma Watson, the station’s onboard doctor, struggles to fight the outbreak, her colleagues are dying one by one. .. (until) Watson is the only one left alive…
Two tales about a lone female astronaut trapped aboard a space station and struggling to get home. Both are titled GRAVITY.
But the movie has absolutely no connection to my book. At least, not that anyone’s told me about. (Mr. Cuaron, feel free to email me!)
I have to admit, these coincidences do happen sometimes. And here are some other coincidences:
When the film rights to my book GRAVITY were sold (they’re held by 20th Century Fox) the studio hired a fine screenwriter named Michael Goldenberg to adapt the book to film. Goldenberg was also the screenwriter who wrote “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”
Alfonso Cuaron also has a Harry Potter connection. He directed “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”
Finally, there’s David Heyman, who’s the producer of Cuaron’s “Gravity.” He was also the producer of BOTH “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” So he knows both Cuaron and Goldenberg.
It’s a small world out in Hollywood. I can’t help but wonder if the name “Gravity”, and “lone female astronaut trapped aboard space station” ever came up in conversation among the three of them!
Does your main character name choice of “Emma Watson” create 1 degree of separation from the Harry Potter movies anyways? lol. It’s almost eerie.
Sean,
yeah, I almost forgot about that! I came up with the character name “Emma Watson” when I was writing the book in 1998. Way before the first Harry Potter movie was filmed!
wow, I recently bought Gravity and I’ve been reading about the movie of the same name and I never made the connection. It is a bizarre “coincidence.”
Interesting point, Tess. At one writer’s conference, this subject came up about coincidences like this. One author believed two writers can come up with a very similar exact story concept, but yet the finish work will be unique to each writer, unless … It’s that “unless” that makes one wonder.
Mark, yes, it’s that “unless” that remains the great unknown here. You want to believe that people wouldn’t be so blatant as to copy, but sometimes you wonder.
Was there anymore done about a movie adaptation?
Olan,
no, I’m afraid the project got stalled after the script was written. I’d always hoped that it would be made, but the studio seems to have dropped it.
Hi,
. I’m certainly going to read all of them. Which one do you recommend to read now? Thanks for response. Best regards 
My name’s Marek and I’m from Poland. I have just finished reading “Gravity” – the very first book of yours that I’ve ever stumbled on. And I must admit – it’s not the last one
Tess, I can’t believe this! For a moment, I was completely giddy while watching the Oscars. I heard the description of Sandra Bullock and George Clooney’s new film, Gravity, and instantly thought it MUST be your book!!!! How exciting!!! I have read all of your books and would love to see one on the big screen!
I just remembered to look up the movie and was disappointed (and confused) to see that it was not yours! Bummer! Google brought me to this blog post of yours from 2010. So, has Fox had anything to say about this? I guess they won’t be making a movie based on YOUR book now? Bummer again!
Hey Tess: So what’s the latest? Will Gravity be a movie or not? What a CRAZY book! I LOVE it!