I Saw the TV Glow director Jane Schoenbrun to release debut novel Public Access Afterworld

If you find yourself scrolling through Film Twitter or simply keep up with the latest independent movies making waves, then you've probably at least heard of Jane Schoenbrun. The writer/director, who uses they/them pronouns, made their directorial debut in 2018 with the Slenderman documentary A Self-Induced Hallucination (available to watch on Vimeo!). But it wasn't until their second movie in 2021, We're All Going to the World's Fair, that critics really began paying attention to the filmmaker.

Schoenbrun followed up We're All Going to the World's Fair with this year's I Saw the TV Glow, an experimental, beautiful trans allegory with fresh performances from A24. The director is definitely on the map now, on their way to becoming an indie favorite in the film space. But what's next for Schoenbrun isn't another movie (yet) but a book, marking their debut novel.

Jane Schoenbrun's book will be a continuation of their films

As reported by IndieWire, Random House Publishing's Hogarth Books has acquired the rights to Schoenbrun's novel Public Access Afterworld, which is a continuation of We're All Going to the World's Fair and I Saw the TV Glow. Ooh, this makes me very interested! Schoenbrun originally intended for the book to be a three-season show but was unable to successfully pitch it to any networks — though HBO was reportedly considering.

Knowing how well-received both We're All Going to the World's Fair and I Saw the TV Glow were received, I'm really hoping Public Access Afterworld gets a TV or film adaption in the future if that's what Schoenbrun still wants. We need more original stories like Schoenbrun's on our screens and I have no doubt their book is going to be worth the read. Check out the official synopsis here:

"An epic blend of literary fantasy, coming-of-age, sci fi, and horror, Public Access Afterworld traces the mysterious transmissions of a secret television network known as Public Access Afterworld that draws in a wide cast of characters, from two teenage best friends in a suburban New York basement to a housewife during the last days of World War II to a young trans content moderator at a YouTube-like corporation, who becomes an unlikely hero capable of rescuing a century of victims disappeared into the broadcast’s signal. Public Access Afterworld is a thrilling and profound novel of identity, conspiracy, the secret occult history of American entertainment, and the narratives that guide our lives and shape our world."

In a statement, Schoenbrun said the following about Public Access Afterworld:

"All of my work so far has been leading up to this. Public Access Afterworld is the culmination of my so-called ‘screen trilogy’ that I began with World’s Fair and TV Glow. But unlike those works, which focused mainly on pre-transition, this novel is an epic of trans becoming, and probably the biggest cinematic universe I’ll ever create, my attempt to craft a contemporary queer opus on the scale of Sandman, Lord of the Rings, or even, groan, Harry Potter."

- Schoenbrun

At the time of this writing, it doesn't look like Schoenbrun has their next film lined up yet, but fingers crossed that'll change soon. In the meantime, keep checking back with us for book news, and we'll be sure to keep an eye on the publish date for Public Access Afterworld once it's announced. I can't wait to read it!

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