Reboots don't often have strong enough concepts to raise enthusiasm on their own, but that is not the case with Minority Report. It's premise is so exciting that you don't need to have seen or remember much about the 2002 film to watch the Fox series when it debuts on Monday night. However, for fans of the original, when does Minority Report take place in relation to the movie?
No need for guesswork, according to the official Fox press release, the new series occurs about 11 years after Minority Report began, but closer to 10 years after the end of the film when the precrime program ended. The movie, which was based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick, took place in a fictionalized 2054. That sets the show is 2065. Well at least I assume a future in which "precriminals" are prosecuted for crimes they have not yet committed is fictional.
The most important thing this means to the plot is that the "precog" psychic children that we saw in the movie have grown up. Agatha, one of the precogs who was featured in the film, will be a character in the series — though this time around the focus is on Agatha's foster brother, Dash. If you remember from the movie, the three precogs, two twin boys and the girl, had visions of the future that matched. Whenever there was a discrepancy, it was called a "minority report" and swept under the proverbial rug. At the end of the movie, the precogs were sent away — but apparently they're back. 11 years is enough time, I think. The siblings are played by different actors. Only one of the movie's original actors will appear on the series and reprise his role as Wally, the handler. We most likely won't be hearing from Tom Cruise's character or his family outside of a few Easter Eggs, as enough years have passed and he's likely moved on.
Also according to the press release, in this sequel of sorts happening after the film, "crime-solving is different, and justice leans more on sophisticated and trusted technology than on the instincts of the precogs." Is this also significant to the timeline? In the film, we also learned that once someone becomes aware of their perceived future, they have the ability to change it. That's partially why the program was shut down and deemed unreliable, but also explains why the precogs are now vigilantes on the series.
However, for all of you completists out there, I have bad news — the film came out in 2002, so it's been more than 11 years in our time. Still, it's a decent chunk that separates the series from the movie without completely changing the familiar, exciting world.
Images: Bruce MacCauley/FOX; Giphy
