Robert Downey Jr. Loves UK ‘Black Mirror,’ Developing Episode For Film

Robert Downey Jr. is to develop an episode of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror television series into a feature film.

Warner Bros have picked up the rights to a 2011 episode of Channel 4’s/Charlie Brooker’s series. It will now be made into a sci-fi thriller produced by Robert Downey Jr. and his wife, Susan, under his Team Downey banner.

The 2011 episode,”The Entire History of You,” was penned by Peep Show, In The Loop writer — the latter was Oscar-nominated for best adapted screenplay — Jesse Armstrong, who has also been tapped to write the feature film.

Nutshelled, it’s the story of a man with an implant that enables him to record and re-watch all of his life experiences. After he becomes obsessed with the idea that his wife is having an affair, he hunts for incriminating evidence until eventually their relationship implodes.

However, the film version will have a slightly different context and a fuller arc. Set in the future, this time the male protagonist will reconstruct a relationship with his dead wife using similar technology, and in so doing inadvertently unravel a conspiracy from her past.

The original UK Black Mirror series was, and still is, produced by media critic, writer, and wit Charlie Brooker. One of its main themes is the idea of television and media as a powerful and dangerous “social force,” one with invariably dark consequences for the characters involved, HitFix notes.

At present, Downey is not attached to star in the film, The Hollywood Reporter writes.