WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Spaceman.
The unforgettable talking alien spider in the new Netflix sci-fi drama Spaceman is one of the most intriguing aspects of the new Adam Sandler movie. Spaceman stars Sandler in another notable dramatic performance seen in previous works such as Uncut Gems, Punch-Drunk Love, and Hustle. Sandler’s astronaut protagonist Jakub receives the unfortunate news that his wife Lenka, played by Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan, wants to divorce him while he’s halfway on a 12-month solo mission to outer space. Emmy Award nominee Paul Dano plays the voice of the guru-esque arachnid alien, whom Sandler’s Jakub names Hanuš.
The new Netflix movie is based on the 2017 novel “Spaceman of Bohemia” by Jaroslav Kalfar. Spaceman has received mixed reviews from critics, earning a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 51% as of its streaming release date of March 1, 2024. The Johan Renck film combines many of the core elements from the novel, particularly the contemplative and existential themes surrounding Jakub’s marital troubles. Jakub’s emotional distress worsens regarding his relationship with Lenka, which is when a friendly extraterrestrial arachnid creature (Dano) appears and helps to alleviate his loneliness by showing him the secrets of the universe and the mysterious Chopra Cloud.
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Spaceman Doesn’t Confirm Whether Hanus Is Real Or Jakub’s Manifestation
While Dano’s Hanuš is easily the most wise and even adorable character in Spaceman, it’s never fully determined by the end of the sci-fi drama whether he is real or a part of Jakub’s imagination. Both creative avenues would be plausible considering the fantastical elements of the story world and timeline, which occur in a parallel alternate reality of Earth. Some of the biggest indicators that Hanuš is real are his interactions with physical matter, such as the container of chocolate frosting and even Jakub on several occasions, particularly when the two main characters embrace in a poignant outer space hug.
Without any other character confirming the existence of Hanuš, it’s more than likely that he is a product of Jakub’s imagination and a way to cope with his loneliness and marital stresses while completely isolated in outer space. Peter, a space technician back on Earth who is Jakub’s primary contact, never detects the spider or sees him on camera, which is said to be broken throughout the film. Still, it’s not entirely clear just how many cameras are broken on Jakub’s ship, but at least one working camera would have easily spotted the giant talking spider-guru. Because Hanuš goes completely undetected on the ship, he is more than likely an imaginary creature.
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Hanus’ Space Origins & Mission Explained
Hanuš claims that he had to flee his home planet, which he does not identify, because of the invasion of the Gorompeds that essentially wiped out his species. After fleeing the planet, he began an expedition to understand other forms of life throughout the universe, apparently being able to fly through space and fuse into Jakub’s spaceship after being drawn by the abrasive rhythmic vibrations of the ship’s broken toilet. Hanuš’ fascination with Jakub is fueled by his curiosity and desire to better understand humans, which leads him to discover some common truths about people at large relating to guilt, fear, and hope.
Why Jakub Names The Giant Spider Hanus
Before Jakub gives Hanuš that name, the arachnid alien creature claims he has never had a name before. To Jakub, Hanuš was a legendary figure in the Czech Republic who built a magnificent astronomical clock only to have his eyes plucked out by a jealous ruler. Jakub reveals that the legend of Hanuš was discovered to be a myth and that he wasn’t sure if the legendary figure was real or not. This is applicable in the case of the spider creature, as Jakub also doesn’t know for sure whether he is real or not and he is also a mythical creature, which makes the name Hanuš pretty spot on in Spaceman.
Gorompeds & Hanus’ Death Explained
The Gorompeds are another type of aliens that look like small insects. They are apparently still living inside of Hanuš after they invaded his home planet and wiped out his kind, as Hanuš explained to Jakub. Jakub tries to use the Bomba disinfectant chemicals on Hanuš which appears to offer some temporary relief. Ultimately, Hanuš knew that the Gorompeds would overtake him soon enough, which is exactly what happens at the end of Spaceman as they consume him whole, turning him into space dust within the Chopra Cloud. Not much else is known about the Gorompeds or why they waited for that exact moment to kill Hanuš.
Metaphorically speaking, the death of Hamuš awakened something within Jakub and his understanding of how the universe works. Hanuš reaffirms throughout Spaceman that everything in the universe is exactly as it should be, which is why he embraces his fate without fear or sadness. This is only one of the lessons that Hanuš imprints on Jakub, who has once again found clarity in the important things in his life and his infinite love for Lenka. Spaceman suggests that Hanuš’s death sprang a new life within Jakub, which aligns with the idea that every beginning and end occur simultaneously.
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Why Hanus Was So Important To Jakub In Spaceman
Hanuš is the wise and gentle foil to Jakub’s miserable and hopeless outlook in Spaceman. In the press notes to Spaceman, director Johan Renck believes that Hanuš, at the most fundamental level, acts as “a voice of reason” for Jakub. “You can obviously think of Hanuš as being a creature from the beginning of time, or you can think of him as being manifested by Jakub in his cabin-fever state and isolation in the spaceship as a companion to talk to. I’ve always found that I have an ability to have these inner dialogues with myself when things are challenging or in situations of severity. I think we all have that ability to have one outer you and one inner you.”
Spaceman’s director effectively allows the viewer to interpret whether Hanuš is real or not, with plausible evidence for both cases. Similar to Dumbledore’s message to Harry Potter in The Deathly Hallows, the cerebral themes and ending of Spaceman share a similar sentiment to, “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” Renck does specify one convincing point on Hanuš, however, stating, “I don’t want this film to be about some kind of manifestation from a lonely astronaut. That bores me a little bit, actually.” Regardless, the healing and reflective effect of Hanuš on Jakub is still the same in Spaceman.
Spaceman
Spaceman is a sci-fi drama starring Adam Sandler and directed by Chernobyl director Johan Renck. The film, based on the book Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfař, follows Jakub Procházka who goes on a solo mission to space and encounters a mysterious creature as he begins to lose touch with reality.
- Director
- Johan Renck
- Release Date
- March 1, 2024
- Studio(s)
- Free Association , Tango Entertainment
- Distributor(s)
- Netflix
- Writers
- Colby Day
- Cast
- Adam Sandler , Paul Dano , Carey Mulligan , Kunal Nayyar , Lena Olin , Isabella Rossellini
- Runtime
- 107 Minutes
- Where To Stream
- Netflix
