“It’s got to be based on comic book.” That’s basically what I say about every movie ever, especially if it has any elements of sci-fi (or zombies). Sometimes, I’m right. In the case of 12 Monkeys, I was dead wrong. We all know that 12 Monkeys, the TV series debuting on Syfy on January 16, is based on Terry Gilliam’s 1995 movie of the same name. But what was Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys based on?
Shockingly, it’s really not a comic book! Instead, it was based on La Jetée, a French short film from 1962. It was directed by Chris Marker, who’s also known for the movie Sans Soleil.
Let’s see what concepts Gilliam (and, by extension, the TV show) “borrowed” from La Jetée for 12 Monkeys. Post-apocalyptic setting? Check. Prisoner sent on time-travel experiments in hopes of rescuing the present?
Check. Mind-bending time-loop stuff with frustrating ambiguity? Check. There are more similarities, but they involve major spoilers, so I’ll let you figure them out for yourself.
