In the future, just before the destruction of Earth, an android (Julian Sands) is sent back in time to the year 1995. His mission is to stop the events that caused the Earth to be destroyed. The android, that uses the name Ken, is put into a capsule and sent back to rural Oregon. Ken the android blows up his time-ship and using a shape-shifting device on his arm, changes his appearance to look like the image of a man shown on a nearby billboard. The appearance of the capsule in present day Earth’s atmosphere is detected by NASA and Dr. Galloway (Craig Wasson). Galloway sets himself on a mission to find the capsule.
In the meantime, Jonathan Driscoll (Giancarlo Esposito) is driving at night on his way to a job interview. Falling asleep, Driscoll is startled when he sees a flash of red. He then runs over Ken who is standing in the middle of the road. Driscoll puts Ken in his car and takes him to the closest hospital. Ken reportedly dies in the emergency room. Driscoll leaves the hospital but is confronted by Ken who is hiding in the back seat of his car. Ken orders him to get a room at a local motel.
Ken tells Jonathan that he is an android that was sent from the future to change events that would lead to the destruction of the Earth. He tells Jonathan that mankind became extinct and that androids were left to try to preserve the planet and to restore humanity. Without humans the machines lacked purpose. To that end the machines created time travel. His mission is to stop the destruction of a newly created rocket that is essential to the future of space exploration and the eventual salvation of the planet.
Driscoll agrees to help Ken. To accomplish his mission Driscoll and Ken head to Phoenix, Arizona to a company called Velodyne where they are going to be testing the new rocket. According to Ken, the failure of the test would result in the project being scrubbed thereby ending future for mankind. All along the journey Driscoll and Ken are being hunted by Galloway, who has his own agenda.
“The Tomorrow Man” was released in 1996 and was directed by Bill D’Elia. It is an American science fiction made-for-television movie.
There are several films with the same title that have different storylines and are in no way related to this film. The movie itself is actually a full length pilot for a prospective television show that was never picked up. The ending is written so that it leaves room for a continued storyline if the film had been picked up. Other than that there isn’t much information available on the movie.
It’s kind of a buddy movie but with an android. The plot is a familiar one but the repartee between the two main characters is smooth as well as fun and adds a lot of warmth to the film. It’s a character driven family film and was actually very entertaining. Both Sands and Esposito have a good rapport and a dry wit that complements each other.
I’m not aware of it ever being released on VHS or DVD but it is on YouTube.