Time Travel & The Superorganism: A Movie Idea
Frankly #81
As we wrap up another year of thought-provoking discussions on The Great Simplification, I take us on an imaginative journey in this week’s Frankly - exploring a potential movie script idea that blends systems, science and fiction. What if someone who deeply understood the challenges of today's global economic Superorganism could travel back in time? Armed with the knowledge of our current ecological and economic trajectory, what would they change? What could they change?
Hollywood media could serve as a powerful tool to educate and inspire a wider audience on the systems science of our current predicament. Unpacking my movie idea, I show how the interventions highlighted - even if sci-fi - could educate audiences about the complex dynamics which have shaped the issues we now face. Through key character developments, we explore the constraints imposed by the path dependency of the Superorganism, realities about aggregate human behavior, and where degrees of freedom might exist to shift the trajectory of the future - in service of life.
If you could travel back through time to the 1970s (or to any date), how would YOU intervene to shape the future? Could education, regenerative ecology, or “Superorganism-free zones” alter the trajectory of civilization? And more broadly, how might Hollywood still play a role in translating the systems science towards providing agency to the general public?
In case you missed it…
It’s not everyday that a stranger thanks you for ‘ruining their life’. In last week’s Frankly, I reflected on a powerful encounter with a venture capitalist whose life was upended - and ultimately enriched - after immersing himself in the full content of The Great Simplification podcast. This man’s journey from techno-optimism to a deeper understanding of the limits of infinite growth on a finite planet shines a light on the purpose of this channel: to inspire and equip curious, prosocial individuals to channel their skills and creativity toward building a future that’s better than the default.
If you appreciate The Great Simplification podcast…
This week, I was joined by local organizer and activist Christian Sawyer, to discuss how he’s built a pro-social community in rural Arizona. Christian emphasized the power of local collaboration and demonstrates how the cultivation of social capital builds resilience in the face of challenges, as well as creates better lives for those who live in the community. Together, we explored the dynamics of community work parties, the skills learned through cooperation, and the significance of trust and friendship in building a supportive network.
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I had a fiction novel idea that touches on some of these concepts; but instead of going back in time, it goes forward. It also uses an advanced simulation tool that mimics a time machine. Not sure I'll ever get around to writing it but thought I'd take the opportunity to share the premise!!
Shadows of COP
At COP31 in Sydney, the world’s most powerful leaders, boldest activists, sharpest scientists, and sharp-tongued corporate executives gather in the hopes of finding a path forward on the climate crisis. The stakes couldn’t be higher, but the divisions between them couldn’t be deeper. CEOs talk about practical, market-friendly solutions. Protestors shout for radical, immediate change. Scientists deliver the cold, hard facts. Policymakers sit in endless meetings trying to keep it all from collapsing into chaos. It feels like no one can agree on what needs to happen, let alone how to do it.
And then Lucas Kim, a tech entrepreneur with an idea so ambitious it borders on reckless, takes the stage. Lucas has built something no one has ever seen before: a simulation machine that can transport people into the future—not to predict it, but to experience it. Delegates can see, feel, and live through what the world could become, based on the choices they’re making right now.
The machine doesn’t just show a single future—it creates a journey through multiple possibilities. First, they see a world where climate inaction has led to devastation: cities swallowed by rising seas, millions displaced, and the global economy in tatters. The chaos feels immediate and suffocating. Then, they witness a different kind of dystopia, where humanity relied on technological fixes but left social inequality and political corruption to fester, creating a fractured world where the rich thrive and everyone else is left behind.
Finally, the delegates are shown something extraordinary: a thriving future, one where humanity pulled itself back from the brink. They see how the world transformed when people aligned around bold, collective action. They see universal education and gender equality stabilising population growth and empowering communities. They see economic systems rebuilt to prioritise well-being and regeneration, not endless growth. They see nations sharing resources and cooperating on climate adaptation, instead of hoarding wealth and pointing fingers. And they see Indigenous knowledge blending with modern innovation, creating harmony with nature and progress.
But the most emotional moments come when the delegates meet their descendants. In the bleak futures, these future generations speak of loss and betrayal, of a world their ancestors failed to protect. In the thriving future, they speak with gratitude and hope, describing how the choices made at COP31 set the foundation for a better world.
The simulations do more than shock or inspire—they show exactly how humanity got to each scenario, mapping the paths taken from decisions made at the summit. The delegates begin to see that while their methods differ, their goals are the same. The corporate leader realises that profit alone won’t save the planet. The activist learns that collaboration is as powerful as protest. The scientist finds their voice in the fight for justice, not just data.
When they return to the present, everything feels different. They begin to talk to one another—not to argue, but to understand. Together, they craft a bold, ambitious plan that combines grassroots power, corporate accountability, scientific innovation, and policies built on fairness. The divisions that seemed insurmountable at the start of the summit don’t disappear, but they become smaller in the face of what they’ve seen.
Shadows of COP is a story about what it takes to overcome the forces that divide us. It’s about the people who have the courage to look beyond their own silos and find common ground. It’s about the future we could create if we let ourselves imagine it—and the sacrifices and determination it takes to get there. And, most of all, it’s about how the choices we make today will echo for generations to come.
Great story idea. If I were writing it, I'd want to explore/imagine the effects of going back in time to:
1. stop Citizen's United from passing (and any other legislation that allows money in politics to dictate policy),
2. nationalize energy production and distribution,
3. nationalize the medical/health care system and make it a non-profit service instead of a for-profit industry,
4. keep in place the higher wealth/corporate income taxes of the 1960s,
5. put a % cap on income inequality within companies (eg. CEO cannot make more than 2000% of the average worker in the company),
6. create huge fines for every demonstrable lie that news outlets and politicians broadcast to the public.
... and so many more...
Thanks for the fun thought experiment!