I Am Number Four Could Quietly Become Netflix’s Next YA Reboot Hit
By Katrina Yang
Timothy Olyphant is most known for playing two TV lawmen in addition to starring as Cobb Vanth in the Star Wars series The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. The actor also took part in Alien: Earth by lending his voice. As prolific as Olyphant is, a few movies are bound to be overlooked. The star played a father figure in a 2011 sci-fi flick, in which he was tasked to protect and guide one of the last remaining Lorien, who escaped their home planet to Earth. Based on the No.1 New York Times bestseller of the same name, I Am Number Four tells an angsty coming-of-age story.
The movie follows an alien named John Smith as he becomes attached to life on Earth while trying to figure out his own destiny. Budding romance meets bigger-than-life problems and emerging friendships; the movie has all the right markings to start a successful YA movie franchise. However, it didn’t receive the level of attention required to launch a franchise when it was released.
I Am Number Four didn’t seem like the kind of movie that would secure a cult status in 2011, but over the years, fans kept coming back, asking for a sequel. In fact, the movie has all the markings to start a successful YA sci-fi franchise. Alex Pettyfer’s John Smith (Number Four) is an alien on the run, having lived among humans for most of his life and having to run from those hunting him and his kind. The film revolves around the experience of being an outsider, different from everyone else. As a hunted alien, John Smith wasn’t allowed to be fully integrated into a community. He struggled with growing powers and a deeper desire for connection. I Am Number Four is a film that can easily resonate with young audiences today. Not to mention, the movie perfectly sets up a sequel. Unlike humans, who can fall in love multiple times in life, a Lorien mates for life. While on the run, John Smith falls in love with Sarah, a local photographer in Paradise, Ohio, and has no choice but to stay to face the threats. Teaming up with an unexpected ally, Number Six, John Smith is on the verge of discovering the true extent of his power. Teaming up with his new friend Sam, a shape-shifting dog, and another legacy like him, the team is on a mission to locate other legacies to defend the last bloodline.