Hollywood director Adam McKay on LA wildfires “catastrophe” – and the enduring resonance of climate change blockbuster ‘Don’t Look Up’

nme.com:

Netflix blockbuster comedy Don’t Look Up, says he’s devastated for the city of Los Angeles and its world-famous filmmaking community as emergency workers continue to battle a series of deadly wildfires.“We’re heartbroken.

Afraid. Sad,” said McKay, a longtime LA resident. “It’s hard for people to comprehend the scale and scope of the disaster we’re in.”The blazes, now raging for more than a week, have led to the deaths of 25 people, destroyed approximately 12,000 structures and forced the evacuation of 180,000 residents from their homes.Don’t Look Up, the story of two astronomers (played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence) desperately trying to warn humanity about a world-ending comet, is an allegory for climate change – a satirical and darkly funny critique of the inaction of governments, media and business to tackle its threat.In late 2024, Netflix Sustainability Officer Emma Stewart shared a study that concluded the film had shifted public perception of climate change, with respondents saying they were more likely to take action.Meanwhile, the real-world effects of climate change have been plain to see for those following recent events in California.

It’s just one example. Humans burning fossil fuels is heating the planet. The result is a changing climate – and an increase in the frequency and intensity of weather events including extreme heat waves, drought, wildfires, storms and floods.Since the release of Don’t Look Up – still the second most-watched film of all time on Netflix – McKay has dedicated a significant portion of his career to telling stories surrounding climate change.

He founded the non-profit organisation Yellow Dot Studios, a “production studio devoted to fighting climate disinformation and.