Six years. That’s how long the emails went out. Like clockwork. Every six months, just a little nudge to the agents—“Is it dead? Is it ours yet?”
Most directors in Hollywood don’t have that kind of attention span. They chase the check, or they chase the franchise clout. But Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein? They’ve been obsessing over The Traveler like it was a lost love letter. And now, finally, the ink is drying.
The duo behind the gory, surprisingly character-driven Final Destination: Bloodlines are in final negotiations to direct Paramount’s new time travel sci-fi drama. And frankly, it’s about time.
The Long Road to The Traveler
The news dropped via Deadline that Lipovsky and Stein are picking up the pieces after Lee Isaac Chung exited the project (reportedly to handle that Ocean’s 11 prequel). Honestly? Chung is great, but his exit feels like fate doing these two a favor.
The project itself has been floating in development purgatory since 2019. Originally set up at MGM based on a script by Austin Everett, it’s now being polished by Justin Rhodes (Terminator: Dark Fate).
I have to admit, I’m usually skeptical when I hear “time travel movie.” It’s a genre that loves to disappear up its own ass with paradoxes. I remember sitting in a sticky, non-air-conditioned theater in the Lower East Side watching Primer for the first time, sweating through my t-shirt, trying to map out timelines until my nose bled. I loved it. I hated how much I loved it. But The Traveler sounds… different. Grounded.
Lipovsky put it best when he said: “It’s very rare to read a script that you connect to so deeply… So the second it became available, we were in there the next day pitching our hearts out. Because it was the one that got away six years ago.”
You don’t say that about a paycheck gig. You say that about art.
What We Know About The Story
Based on Joseph Eckert’s upcoming book, the film follows Scott Treder, a 47-year-old biology technician. He’s not building a machine. He’s not Doc Brown. He starts jumping through time against his will.
Adam Stein calls it an “original sci-fi story that is very grounded, in terms of character, but has a very elevated theme.” That’s the sweet spot. If Bloodlines proved anything, it’s that these two know how to take a high-concept premise (death chasing teenagers) and actually make you care about the meat sacks before they get obliterated.
The Elephant in the Room: Their Insane Schedule
Here’s the thing that worries me. Just a little.
Lipovsky and Stein are currently busier than a Marvel VFX artist during crunch time. Let’s look at the slate:
- They are co-writing Gremlins 3 (due November 19, 2027).
- They’re directing Long Lost.
- They’re directing The Earthling.
- They just wrapped Freaks Underground (the sequel to their 2018 cult hit).
Somewhere in that chaos, they have to fit in The Traveler. Can they do it? Probably. The industry clearly trusts them after Bloodlines became a critical and commercial smash, elevating a franchise that frankly had no right being that good in its sixth entry.
But creative exhaustion is real. I’ve seen too many directors finally land their “dream project” only to execute it like zombies because they’re spread too thin.
Why This Matters
Paramount isn’t exactly known for taking risks on weird, mid-budget sci-fi lately. The fact that they are handing the keys to two guys who have been stalking this script for half a decade suggests they see what I see: potential for a cult classic.
Lipovsky and Stein have deals all over town, but The Traveler feels personal. It’s the one they fought for. Usually, that fights translates to the screen.
I’m hopeful. Cautiously. Maybe even excitedly. If they can channel even half of the tension they brought to Freaks into a time-travel narrative, we’re in for something special. Or maybe it’ll just be another timeline headache. But God, I hope not.
What do you think? Do we trust them to pull this off amidst a slate that packed, or is this “dream project” arriving at the wrong time?
What This Means for Sci-Fi Fans
- Passion over Paycheck: The directors pursued this specific story for six years, suggesting a creative vision that goes beyond standard studio mandates.
- Grounded Approach: Unlike Marvel’s multiverse antics, this focuses on involuntary time travel affecting a regular, middle-aged man.
- The “Bloodlines” Effect: The success of their Final Destination sequel proved they can handle studio pressure without losing their indie voice.
- Scheduling Tetris: With Gremlins 3 and two other films on their docket, the actual release date for The Traveler is anyone’s guess.
FAQ
Why did Lee Isaac Chung leave The Traveler?
It essentially came down to scheduling and opportunity. Chung exited the project seemingly to focus on the massive Ocean’s 11 prequel. While a loss for Paramount initially, it cleared the lane for Lipovsky and Stein, who had been coveting the project since its MGM days.
Is The Traveler connected to the Terminator franchise?
No, despite the writer connection. While Justin Rhodes wrote Terminator: Dark Fate, The Traveler is a standalone story based on Joseph Eckert’s novel. It focuses on a biology technician, Scott Treder, rather than killer robots, aiming for psychological drama rather than action spectacle.
Will this delay Gremlins 3?
It’s unclear, but possible. Lipovsky and Stein are attached to co‑write Gremlins 3 for a 2027 release. Depending on where The Traveler falls in production priority (Paramount seems eager), it could shuffle their deck. However, writers often work on scripts long before cameras roll on their directing gigs.
Why is the “involuntary” time travel aspect significant?
Most time travel movies feature protagonists trying to fix something (Back to the Future) or stop something (Terminator). The Traveler features a protagonist who is a victim of the phenomenon. This structural shift usually leads to horror or thriller elements—losing control of one’s reality—rather than an action‑adventure romp.
