The Nana Project

The Nana Project 2024

Runtime

1 h 24 m

Language

english

English

Test your knowledge of The Nana Project with our quiz!

Plot Summary


The film opens in 2050, where a pilot named Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds) is flying a jet up in space. He is pursued by a woman named Maya Sorian (Catherine Keener), but Adam flies far enough to open a wormhole where he disappears.

2022 – 12-year-old Adam (Walker Scobell) is being chased by school bully Ray Dollarhyde (Braxton Bjerken) and his buddy Chuck (Kasra Wong). Ray beats Adam up because Adam has a propensity for making smartass comments. Adam gets suspended, and his mother Ellie (Jennifer Garner) comes in to chew out the principal.

Adam has lived with Ellie after they lost his father Louis (Mark Ruffalo) over a year earlier in a car accident. Ellie is going on a date with a coworker, and Adam cannot do anything but make snarky comments and be unsupportive towards her. After she leaves, their dog Hawking runs outside. Adam follows and finds ashes falling from the sky. He goes into his dad’s garage and finds Big Adam sitting with a bullet wound in his abdomen. When Young Adam tells his older self that he is in 2022, Big Adam realizes he made a mistake. After patching himself up inside the house, Young Adam realizes he is talking to himself as an adult. Big Adam shows Young Adam his ship that can be activated with his DNA, and he stays hidden to rest up. He tells Young Adam that once he returns to his fixed timeline, their memories will reconcile and Young Adam will most likely not remember meeting his older self.

After Ellie gets home, Adam meets her date and makes more rude comments, leading Ellie to tell her son he’s a jerk sometimes. Outside, Big Adam sees Ellie step outside, and he feels bad for her.

The next day, Big Adam goes out with his younger self where they run into Ray and Chuck again. Big Adam steps in to encourage Young Adam to go along with the fight with confidence, but Ray still beats him up. Big Adam threatens Ray bad enough to make him wet himself, and he returns to Young Adam to apologize for letting him go through that, but he tells him that they needed to let it happen, or he will not develop into his stronger self as he gets older. Young Adam looks at Big Adam’s phone and sees a photo of his wife, Laura (Zoe Saldaña), but Big Adam doesn’t want to talk about her.

Big Adam finds Ellie at a bar, where she is talking to the bartender about her issues with her son. Adam offers words of encouragement, assuring Ellie that she is doing a great job and that her son really does love him.

Adam returns home to tell his younger self that Maya, who was Louis’s business partner, is in control in the future since she exploited Louis’s discovery of time travel. Louis created a particle accelerator, “The Adam Project”, and using this, Maya has turned the planet into a dystopian hellhole. His original target was 2018, but he missed the mark. She also killed Laura when she attempted a time jump, and Adam knows that she is coming for him. Sure enough, Maya sends her goons, plus her right-hand man Christos (Alex Mallari Jr). The villains find the Adams outside, and Big Adam takes out his special weapon and fights the henchmen, who disintegrate because they died outside of their fixed time. Christos comes out to fight Adam, but they are saved by Laura appearing from the woods. After taking out more henchmen, she drives them through the woods, where Big Adam kills two more thugs.

Laura brings the Adams to a cabin to hide out. She tells them that she tried to jump to 2018 because Maya had already gone back in time to manipulate the timeline and make herself successful. After Big Adam and Laura have an intimate moment after a long time apart, she tells him that they cannot stay there, and he has to finish the mission to 2018. Adam tearfully parts with Laura again and drives his younger self to find his ship. Christos goes after them, but Laura holds him back with a landmine, though it doesn’t kill him. The Adams get in the ship and fly away, but Maya kills Laura and then goes after them. She knows that Adam only has one jump left, and there’s no other way for him to get back to his timeline. The two decide to jump to 2018.

In 2018, the Adams find Louis teaching a class. After the students leave, Louis quickly pieces together that he is talking to his son as an adult, as well as a version that is four years older than the one that he already lives with. Big Adam explains to his dad that time travel is real thanks to him, and Maya has betrayed him for her own gain. They ask for Louis’s help, but he doesn’t want to do anything else that can negatively affect the timelines. Big Adam gets angry with Louis and hits him, and Louis hits back. He tells his younger self that Louis was never a good dad and that he only cared more about his work than his own son.

The Adams go back to the cabin, where Young Adam tells his older self that he thinks Big Adam is angry with Louis because he is angry about his death, and it is easier to be mad at him than to grieve him.

Louis goes back home to Ellie and 8-year-old Adam. He wonders if Adam seems sad, but Ellie gives him reassurance. Meanwhile, Maya finds her younger self once again after previously using her when she time-jumped the first time. She warns her that Adam will be her biggest problem.

The Adams resolve to go to Maya’s company and shut the accelerator down themselves. Young Adam uses a special drone to deal with more henchmen, but Louis shows up after changing his mind, saying they can grab the hard drive that contains his algorithm for time travel. Big Adam goes inside with Louis, while Maya’s ship appears behind Young Adam.

Adam and Louis make it to the accelerator, but the Mayas show up, along with Christos and the henchmen holding Young Adam at gunpoint. At his older self’s encouragement, he causes the villains to fire a shot at the accelerator’s electromagnetic shield. The accelerator begins to destabilize, and the heroes fight the villains. Christos gets knocked into the accelerator, while Maya orders Louis to give up the hard drive. When he refuses, she fires an armor-piercing round to kill them, but the shield pulls the bullet toward the younger Maya, killing her and causing the older Maya to disintegrate and be erased from the future. The guys then flee the building as the accelerator blows up.

The three return home. Louis acknowledges that he is going to die and that it will hurt his son, but he asks them not to tell him when or how it happens. He reassures Big Adam that he is proud of him, and he hugs both versions of his son. Knowing they are set to return to their own timelines, Big Adam tells Young Adam to be a better son to Ellie. They then play catch with Louis one last time before they return.

Back in 2022, Adam starts showing more love to Ellie. Years later, Adam in college meets Laura when she walks to the wrong classroom and he offers to walk her to the right building.

Timeline


Introduction in 2050

The film opens in the year 2050, where pilot Adam Reed is engaged in a high-speed chase in space. He is pursued by a relentless adversary, Maya Sorian, but manages to escape by opening a wormhole, disappearing from view.

2050 Space

Young Adam's Struggles

In 2022, twelve-year-old Adam is targeted by school bully Ray Dollarhyde and his friend. After a confrontation, Adam gets suspended from school, prompting a visit from his mother, Ellie, who confronts the principal about the bullying.

2022 School

Loss of Father

Adam has been living with his mother, Ellie, following the tragic death of his father, Louis, in a car accident over a year prior. Their strained relationship is evident as Ellie prepares for a date, while Adam struggles with his emotions regarding his father's absence.

Meeting the Older Self

After a series of events, young Adam discovers his older self, Big Adam, injured in their father's garage. This shocking reunion leads to an explanation that Adam must return to his original timeline to preserve their future.

Garage

Facing Bullying Together

The next day, Big Adam takes younger Adam out, where they encounter Ray and Chuck again. Big Adam encourages his younger self to stand up for himself, but the confrontation results in young Adam being beaten up, prompting Big Adam to rethink their plan.

2022 School

Revelations About Maya

Big Adam learns that Maya, who was his father's business partner, has seized control in the future, manipulating time travel for her gain. He shares this information with Young Adam, expressing the urgency of their mission.

Laura's Return

The plot thickens when Laura, Big Adam’s wife, appears to help them escape from Maya’s henchmen. She reveals her own time-traveling attempts and warns that Maya has already twisted events to her advantage.

Woods

Journey to 2018

After a heart-wrenching farewell, Big Adam takes Young Adam into his ship to jump back to 2018. The tension builds as they realize they must face Maya's threats head-on in the past.

Confronting Louis

In 2018, the Adams confront Louis, who is baffled to see two versions of his son. As they explain the situation, old wounds are reopened, revealing the complicated dynamics of their family relationship.

2018 Classroom

Maya's Manipulations

Maya re-emerges as a sinister force, manipulating time to her benefit. She attempts to warn her younger self about the impending conflict with the Adams, foreshadowing the familial struggle.

Final Showdown

The Adams, now united with Louis, head to Maya's facility to dismantle the particle accelerator. As they face off against Maya and her henchmen, they engage in a fierce battle to save their timelines.

Maya's facility

The Accelerator Destruction

The confrontation escalates when Maya's actions inadvertently lead to the destruction of the accelerator. In a chaotic moment, she unintentionally erases herself from existence.

A Bittersweet Goodbye

After the battle, Louis shares a poignant moment with both Adams, acknowledging his fate and expressing pride in his sons. They play catch one last time to commemorate their bond.

Home

A New Beginning

Returning to 2022, Young Adam begins to change his behavior towards Ellie, showing her more love and support. This marks a turning point as he embraces a more positive approach to family life.

2022

Meeting Laura Again

Years later, Adam, now in college, encounters Laura again when she mistakenly walks into the wrong classroom. Their fateful meeting sets the stage for a new chapter in their lives.

College

Characters


Young Adam

Young Adam is a 12-year-old boy struggling with bullying and the emotional impact of losing his father. He displays a sharp wit and snarky attitude, often masking his feelings of abandonment. Throughout the film, he learns essential lessons about courage and maturity through his interaction with his older self.

👦 Boy 🌱 Growth 💔 Loss

Big Adam

Big Adam is the adult version of the protagonist, dealing with the ramifications of his past. He is shaped by loss, regret, and the desire to ensure his younger self becomes a stronger person. His character embodies the struggle of reconciling memories with actions and is driven by the love he has for his family.

👨‍🦰 Adult 🔄 Time Traveler 💔 Regret

Louis (Adam's Father)

Louis is a brilliant but flawed father whose focus on work led to a strained relationship with his son, Adam. He is pivotal to the story as his discoveries lead to time travel but also cause significant family pain. Through his interactions with both versions of Adam, he seeks redemption and a deeper connection before his inevitable fate.

👨‍👦 Father 🎓 Genius 🌌 Legacy

Ellie (Adam's Mother)

Ellie is a caring yet overwhelmed mother trying to navigate life after the loss of her husband. Her struggles with single parenthood and dating reflect her desire to create a stable environment for Adam. Her character highlights the challenges many face while raising children alone, revealing the depth of her love through every struggle.

👩‍👦 Mother 🤝 Support 🤔 Challenges

Maya Sorian

Maya represents the antagonist with a cunning drive to exploit time travel for her gain. She is a former partner of Louis and is instrumental in turning the future into a dystopia. Her manipulative nature showcases the dangerous potentials of power and ambition unchecked by morality.

🧑‍💼 Villain 💰 Ambition 🌪️ Chaos

Setting


Time period

2050, 2022, 2018

The narrative takes place across three distinct time periods, starting in 2050, where the world has been transformed into a dystopian nightmare due to time travel manipulation. In 2022, the characters grapple with personal trauma and unresolved issues, while 2018 depicts a simpler past before the calamities unfold.

Location

Future Earth, 2022, 2018

The film traverses various timelines, primarily showcasing Earth in 2022, a time filled with familial struggles and personal growth. In 2018, we see a more innocent Adam who is yet to face the burdens of adulthood. The cabin serves as a pivotal hiding spot for the characters, symbolizing a temporary refuge amidst chaos.

🌍 Earth ⏳ Time Travel 🏡 Cabin

Themes


🪐

Time Travel

Time travel is a central theme in the movie, exploring its impact on personal relationships and the consequences of altering timelines. The characters confront both past and future selves, highlighting how choices reverberate through time. This theme emphasizes the complexities of fate and the bonds that transcend time.

❤️

Family

The importance of family is highlighted throughout the film, reflecting on parental relationships and the emotional wounds that linger after loss. As Adam connects with his father and mother across timelines, the narrative delves into forgiveness and understanding. The bond between the characters strengthens as they learn to value each other's roles in their lives.

💪

Self-Discovery

The journey of self-discovery plays a crucial role, particularly for Young Adam as he learns to confront his insecurities and develop inner strength. Through the guidance of his older self, he understands the importance of facing challenges to grow. This theme reinforces the idea that adversity can shape one's character and resilience.

© 2024 What's After the Movie?. All rights reserved.