Washington [US], March 23: Actress Elizabeth Olsen has revealed that she drew inspiration for her role in the upcoming sci-fi thriller The Assessment from a book that explores a real-life cult and their beliefs about alien technology. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, centers on a couple, Mia (Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel), who undergo a weeklong visit from an “assessor” named Virginia (Alicia Vikander). Virginia subjects them to a series of tests to determine whether they are fit to become parents.
Olsen shared that during the production of the film, she found inspiration in Michel Houellebecq’s 2005 novel The Possibility of an Island. The book, set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity has been destroyed, involves a cult that clones its members. The cult’s philosophy mirrors the real-world Raelian movement in France, which believes aliens invented modern technology and advocates for immortality through cloning.
“I think his philosophy and the places he goes to in his own little, I don’t know, sci-fi book … it opened up a whole little avenue for me to kind of explore,” Olsen said, reflecting on the book’s influence on her performance in The Assessment.
Olsen, known for her roles in both dramatic and fantastical films, is no stranger to the literary world. Alongside her husband, Robbie Arnett, she co-authored a children’s book titled Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective in 2022. The book, which is part of a series, was inspired by their own experiences with anxiety, and they hoped it would provide guidance for young readers navigating similar challenges.
Olsen added, “I wrote a children’s book with my husband, who is a far better writer than I am.”
The Assessment is currently in theaters, offering audiences a thought-provoking look at a dystopian future and the complex dynamics between the characters.