The Story
Synopsis
In a near-future Earth ravaged by ecological collapse and civil breakdown, humanity’s last hope lies not in war—but in the stars.
Commander Roger Thorson, leader of the orbital space station Phoenix, grapples with failing infrastructure, rising chaos on the surface, and the dark threat of Fritz, a maniacal warlord bent on conquering the planet. As civilization teeters on the brink of collapse, a miraculous alien signal arrives from the star Chara across 27 light years of space. Even more astonishing: Earth and Chara will align in a rare cosmic phenomenon known as a Stransit, enabling faster-than-light travel through the mysterious quantum threads known as Strands.
Roger assembles a daring team including the brilliant but skeptical linguist Phoebe 7, the eccentric engineer Quazarus Crawford, and the hyper-kinetic tech wizard and videophile Zak—to embark on the most ambitious mission in human history: to reach out to an alien race for help in saving a dying Earth.
But the journey quickly becomes a descent into the unknown. After a mind-bending traversal through the Strands, the team arrives not at a promised utopia—but on a brutal world ruled by Zarg, a grotesque and cunning emperor who wants their technology… and maybe their lives.
Trapped behind enemy lines with no way back, the crew must outwit Zarg’s deadly forces, escape a gladiatorial death trap, and make one final, desperate leap across the galaxy to a distant and uncharted world. With one of their own captured, another gravely injured, and Earth awaiting salvation or destruction, the mission becomes not just a cry for help—but a test of what it means to be human.
Strands is a visually stunning sci-fi epic filled with thrilling action, philosophical stakes, biting humor, and unforgettable characters. It is a race against entropy itself—a story of courage, collapse, and cosmic hope.
Characters
In a post-apocalyptic near-future Earth, the Space Station Phoenix — the only remaining functional space station in Earth orbit — is critical to holding the maniacal would-be emperor Fritz at bay, and offering a glimmer of hope for a brighter future. Lead by captain Roger Thorson, the dedicated crew of the Phoenix struggles to address a constant series of intended and unintended catastrophes that threaten the very survival of humanity.
Fritz is the cyber-sadist ruler of Earth’s wastelands, a warlord wrapped in digital decadence. With a flair for theater and a taste for destruction, he hacks broadcasts, mocks leaders, and spreads fear like wildfire. Once an intellectual equal to the Thorsons, he now thrives on chaos, playing puppet-master from a hidden throne. Both genius and madman, Fritz is the manifestation of Earth’s collapse—an omnipresent threat to the Outreach mission, and a dark mirror to humanity’s ambition.
Captain of Space Station Phoenix, Roger Thorson is humanity’s reluctant Atlas—shouldering the collapse of Earth with stoic resolve. Haunted by loss and burdened with impossible choices, he leads the Outreach mission to seek salvation through the stars. Beneath his controlled exterior lies deep compassion and moral conviction. As threats escalate, Roger must balance leadership, sacrifice, and hope—while confronting the fear that humanity’s last chance may also be its final mistake.
Grace Thorson, Roger’s wife and skilled pilot, is the mission’s emotional anchor and spiritual voice. Devout, brilliant, and empathetic, she bridges science and faith, offering calm resolve in moments of chaos. Grace believes in the Outreach mission not just technologically, but divinely—as humanity’s sacred calling. Her strength supports Roger when leadership weighs heavy, and her unwavering belief in goodness provides the crew with hope in the face of overwhelming despair.
Quazarus Crawford, or “Quaze,” is the cosmic dreamer behind Strand theory—half mystic, half physicist. With wild blond curls, whimsical charm, and unorthodox genius, he’s the visionary spark that ignites humanity’s leap toward salvation. A close friend to Roger and mentor to Zak, Quaze is a source of levity and insight amid the mission’s rising tension. His poetic optimism hides a deep burden—and when the mission goes sideways, his selfless brilliance becomes the stuff of legend.
In a post-apocalyptic near-future Earth, the Space Station Phoenix — the only remaining functional space station in Earth orbit — is critical to holding the maniacal would-be emperor Fritz at bay, and offering a glimmer of hope for a brighter future. Lead by its commanding leader, Roger Thorson, the dedicated crew of the Phoenix struggles to address a constant series of intended and unintended catastrophes that threaten the very survival of humanity.
Zak is the Phoenix’s high-strung tech savant, raised in space leader of the quirky Orbits crew who are tasked with building the Dove spacecraft at the heart of the Outreach mission. Obsessed with 20th-century media and packed with nervous energy, Zak masks his insecurities with humor and bravado. When a neurological issues threatens the mission, his vulnerability emerges—but so does his resilience. Loyal, lovable, and ultimately heroic, Zak proves that even the goofball genius has a crucial role to play in humanity’s survival among the stars.
The Dove is humanity’s most advanced spacecraft—sleek, silver, teardrop-shaped, and designed specifically for travel through the Strands. Powered by the Seed, a precision-engineered sub-quantum annihilator, The Dove is both a technological marvel and a fragile vessel of hope. Light, fast, and unarmed, it reflects the peaceful intention of the Outreach mission. Yet beneath its elegant design lies a ticking clock: the crew must survive, connect, and return—without backup. It is not a warship; it is a prayer cast into the void.
The Aeliars are a mysterious, highly evolved alien race whose signal from the Chara system sparks humanity’s desperate Outreach mission. Though never directly seen, they represent hope, higher intelligence, and the promise of peace, power, and healing. Their transmission offers cures for disease, access to limitless energy, and spiritual insight. The Aeliars are less characters than symbols—a cosmic mirror reflecting humanity’s longing for redemption and meaning in a universe that may be far more complex than expected.
Norad is Earth’s last militarized stronghold—carved into the Rocky Mountains, fortified, and home to humanity’s final weapons, including the devastating Sub-Quantum Annihilator. Stoic and uncompromising, Norad represents the survivalist mindset of preemptive force and controlled collapse. It is where hard decisions are made, alliances are strained, and trust in diplomacy withers. Despite its cold aesthetic of steel and stone, Norad is a critical pivot point—where the Outreach mission either gains essential support or collapses under fear and power politics.
Commander Case is a hard-edged military strategist from Norad, loyal to humanity’s survival by any means necessary. With a square jaw, buzz-cut, and zero tolerance for sentiment, she represents the cold logic of Earth’s defense apparatus. Initially skeptical of the Outreach mission, Case eventually joins the crew, offering combat prowess and tactical clarity. Her belief in force over diplomacy clashes with Roger’s vision—but when action is needed, Case never hesitates to draw the line.
Pacifica 1 is the crown jewel of humanity’s underwater sanctuaries—a luxurious, dome-covered metropolis beneath the Pacific Ocean near Tahiti. A fusion of tropical paradise and technological utopia, it houses philosophers, geneticists, and political elites in serenity and style. Palm trees sway beside bio-labs while classical quartets play amid holographic debates. But beneath the beauty lies control. Pacifica 1 is a curated society—sterile, selective, and morally ambiguous—where survival has been achieved, but at the cost of innocence, equity, and truth.
Dr. Stone is Pacifica’s enigmatic biotech administrator—brilliant, controlling, and morally ambiguous. A geneticist turned statesman, he pushes boundaries with controversial creations like Centaurs and cognitive drugs like Taxys. He recruits Phoebe 7 for the Outreach mission with secretive intentions, believing that humanity can only be saved through engineered evolution. But as the truth unravels, his arrogance and utilitarian mindset reveal a man willing to sacrifice billions for his own vision of perfection.
Phoebe 7 is a compassionate linguist and relief worker from Pacifica 7. Known for rescuing children from Earth’s most dangerous zones, she reluctantly joins the Outreach team—skeptical of its risks. Fiercely intelligent and morally grounded, Phoebe grows into a central leader, building bridges between alien worlds and her own crew. As tensions mount, her strength, empathy, and bravery define her as more than a translator—she becomes the soul of humanity’s interstellar quest.
Strands are cosmic filaments of sub-quantum matter—woven lines of “Bing” and “Ohm” that stretch between stars like invisible highways. When two Strands intersect at a Nexus, matter can be “deploded” into a two-dimensional stream and transmitted instantaneously across light years. The process, called Stransit, requires extreme precision and the annihilation of atomic material using the Seed device. Remarkably, information encoded in the Strand reassembles at the destination, allowing faster-than-light travel without violating physical laws.
Zargon is a hellish world orbiting Chara—ruled by the grotesque Emperor Zarg and divided into rigid castes. From primitive laborers to aristocratic overlords, its society thrives on oppression, ritual sacrifice, and brutal technological superiority. Beneath its jagged peaks and stormy skies lies an empire built on fear. Zargon is a twisted mirror of Earth’s worst instincts, cloaked in grandeur but rotting from within. What was believed to be a beacon of salvation becomes a trap—and a warning writ across the stars.
In a post-apocalyptic near-future Earth, the Space Station Phoenix — the only remaining functional space station in Earth orbit — is critical to holding the maniacal would-be emperor Fritz at bay, and offering a glimmer of hope for a brighter future. Lead by its commanding leader, Roger Thorson, the dedicated crew of the Phoenix struggles to address a constant series of intended and unintended catastrophes that threaten the very survival of humanity.
Zarg is the massive, grotesque emperor of Zargon—a tyrant with a thousand-year reign and a fetish for dominance. Towering, cunning, and ceremonial, Zarg rules through ritual and terror, organizing society into rigid castes. When the Outreach crew lands on his planet, he sees not allies—but prey. Obsessed with learning their secrets of star travel, Zarg offers diplomacy with a dagger behind his back. His world isn’t salvation—it’s a warning about power without empathy.
Will the daring and determined crew of the Dove manage to escape the clutches of the powerful tyrant, Zargon? Will they ever find the solutions to the existential crisis they face?
Let’s work it out together!
History
Dane Christensen originally imagined the first few scenes of the movie over 40 years ago, but other than a few scribbled notes, never actually wrote the screenplay until 2008. Recognizing the extreme odds against his ambitious screenplay being purchased, Dane focused on other priorities over the following years, including raising his daughters.
But though he had set the script aside, it continued to roll around in his mind over the years, and he always envisioned a time when he could return to the project, especially with a group of collaborators.
Over the years, the moviemaking industry evolved while new technologies such as blockchain, crypto, and AI increased in power and reach. Dane’s vision for a strategy to produce Strands evolved along with these changes, and now this vision has crystallized into a formidable plan to launch the greatest cinematic production of all time.