Cinematic Storytelling:

Upgrade (2018)

Artistic influence doesn’t happen in a straight line.

A while ago I posted on Twitter that I'd like to see the Six Million Dollar Man rebooted. (Accounting for inflation today it’d cost $42,657,297.30 to rebuild Steve Austin.)

The Six Million Dollar Man is what I consider a great idea with poor execution.

There’s the core of an awesome sci-fi/action series in this show. (Based on the 1972 novel Cyborg.)

The Six Million Dollar Man has a rich mythology that has shared DNA with the spy/action thriller:

• A reluctant protagonist thrown into a situation beyond his control and then used as a government asset without his agreement.

• A shady intelligence organization that takes advantage of the protagonists’ situation. (It was called the Office of Scientific Intelligence on the series.)

• Life-saving tech that gives the protagonist a second chance, but also puts him in the clutches of a shady intelligence organization. (This what I like to call the gadget. The fantastic element that propels the narrative into the domain of sci-fi.)

• A roster of colorful and villains.

• A potential nemesis with the ability of disguising himself as anyone, so anyone could play the character of Maskatron. (More on this at the bottom.)

But these elements aren’t used in the exciting way they promise when you see them outlined like this. Or when you look at the paperback cover of Cyborg.

But arguably, The Six Million Dollar Man has been indirectly rebooted in the 2018 movie Upgrade.

Upgrade carries the framework of The Six Million Dollar Man, plus the influence of grindhouse filmmaking.

Upgrade is what the 1973 made for TV movie of the Six Million Dollar Man was aiming for, before they removed the darker tone to direct the show at a younger audience.

Interesting. The influence of kids is what led to the best contribution to the Six Million Dollar Man.

Maskatron.

Maskatron was the contribution to the series by Kenner Toys. Conceived of when Major Frederick Sloan (John Saxon), a friend of Steve Austin, was kidnapped and replaced with an identical robot. (Day of The Robot, S1, E4. Original air date February 8, 1974.)

Kenner took artistic license and created an action figure of Maskatron that included removable limbs and replaceable masks of Steve Austin, Oscar Goldman, and Frederick Sloan.

Maskatron was not part of the established mythology of the show, and this further shows how The Six Million Dollar Man was a series bursting with potential.

Upgrade, on the other hand, gleefully leans into its premise, delivering awesome cinematic entertainment.

Upgrade is Leigh Whannell (writer/director) applying artistic license to The Six Million Dollar Man, and succeeding.

Have you seen Upgrade?

Did you like it?

While you think about my questions, I’m going to go and find a copy of Cyborg.