It’s Wild and Wacky with Invaders from Proxima B

Coming to Fandango at Home
May 31, 2024

Ward Roberts certainly knows everything about UFOs and it manifests is lots of fun ways in his third outing as a movie director. From shapechangers to fuzzy versions and even reptiles, the gambit is well covered in Invaders from Proxima B. As for himself, he plays a character whose time on the road as a musician prevents him from being the father that he needs to be. Some viewers will remember him from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., where he plays Hugo.

And I feel this work excellently showcases not only his comedic talent but also his skill as a director. I’m fairly certain I laughed at every bit he wanted to be hilarious. Viewers not only get treated to a cartoon style adventure but also enjoy the heartfelt payoff. What’s presented is a tale I always wanted the 80s sitcom ALF to end at. After a prologue inspired by Lilo & Stitch, what happens next is certainly expected and chuckle-worthy. When Steve the Alien meets Howie (Roberts) there’s some good natured chaos and eventually, this little fuzzy thing gets “adopted” by the family.

The story is very familiar. Aside from the obvious 80s style references, I detect a few My Favourite Martian moments too. Although Paul set the standard for alien comedies, what’s written here stands well on its own. When there’s body swaps, Men in Black (wearing Hawaiian shirts in this film’s case), and ninja reptiles, I was giddy! It’s like the Roberts made sure that everything about current ufology lore is swiftly parodied. If I say too much, I’d be spoiling this film.

The ideas being presented are tongue in cheek. It’s as funny as watching any Muppet movie and to answer those lingering questions, I corresponded with this filmmaker about this upcoming release:

For our readers who are unfamiliar with your filmography, can you please introduce yourself?

Greetings, Earthlings! My name is Ward Roberts, a proud alum of Peru High School in Peru, Indiana, and Indiana University in beautiful Bloomington, Indiana. Ever since I was a wee lad, I was making home movies and performing in civic theatre productions with my family. In high school and college I was all about the stage and the screen, acting in whatever plays were happening, and shooting films with whatever gear was available.

Inspirations evolved as I grew up: Spielberg, Lucas, Burton, Dante and Donner as a kid, though I didn’t even know what a director was at that stage.

Jim Carrey was my hero in middle and high school. Once in college, and then LA, the Coen brothers, Wes Anderson, P.T. Anderson and Tarantino were the contemporary filmmakers that really moved me. Over the years Leone, Kurosawa, Kubrick, Welles, Ashby, Peckinpah, and so many more spurred me on.

One thing I’ve noticed is that you have a passion for writing/directing/producing quirky little films. Why is that?

Because nobody has ever offered me a truckload of cash to make a big, broad film. I’m kidding. But also I’m serious. In order to get films made, I’ve written them for people and places I know and can access. Within those parameters, it’s about trying to create a world and tell a story that moves me, excites me and makes me laugh, and hopefully that in being true to my own sensibilities, it will tap into something universal in others.

How would you say that has helped in the development of Invaders of Proxima B?

Well, I finally had my home in LA to use as a location, and a merry band of incredibly passionate actors and filmmakers who are also dear and dedicated friends. One night I was playing with my kids and some puppets when the whole premise struck like lightning. Six years later, here we are.

Would you say The Muppet Show and ALF the TV series are a huge influence on the creation of this movie?

1000%. I LOVED those shows. That said, never did I imagine myself using puppets for anything, but after ordering a couple from Etsy to entertain the kiddos, I realised how much freedom one can find in them. You go outside of yourself. You are much less self-conscious and stuck in the confines of whoever you perceive yourself to be in human form

If not, what other sitcoms would you say are key?

Not so much sitcoms, but 80s creature movies like ET, Explorers, Gremlins, Beetlejuice, and Ghostbusters are all a part of my DNA.

Do you think Earth is home to a lot of aliens, who are in disguise, or have soul swapped like this movie suggests?

So glad you asked. I believe we are not alone. There is overwhelming evidence going back almost 80 years, and really much further, that there are other forms of non-human intelligence here on Earth. Now, if those intelligences come from another planet, another time, another dimension, or have been here with us all along, I just don’t know. I am, however, wildly curious.

What made you decide to include animation in this work, aside from the fact it’d be too much to recreate in real life?

Invaders from Proxima B is very much a live-action cartoon, so incorporating the animation sequences felt like an ideal way to establish that tone. And yeah, we just didn’t have the budget to film in outer space or on another planet.

Who would you say the target audience is for this film?

Families–children and parents and grandparents, ideally all watching it together. Having kids at home, I know that once you cycle through the classics, it’s so hard to find movies the whole family enjoys. The dream is that many, any families spend quality time together watching Invaders from Proxima B, and hopefully, more than once!

Will there be a sequel? After seeing the stinger in the end, I fully expect that’s the plan, but I need to confirm.

If somebody has the cash, I’m all for it. Even better is if someone wants it as a series, live action or animated, we are ready to go.

Any parting words?

Dear person reading this… please watch this movie. If you enjoy it, please tell others to watch this movie. We are an extremely small, truly independent film with virtually no way to attract a large audience on our own. The success of Invaders from Proxima B is entirely contingent upon strong word of mouth, now more powerful than ever in the social media age. Our future is in your hands!

Invaders from Proxima B Movie Trailer