H.G. (Herbert George) Wells (1866-1946) was an English author best remembered for his works of speculative fiction, including The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896) and The War of the Worlds (1898). Many of his works have been adapted into film and television productions, including the 1936 film Things to Come, on which Wells himself worked.
Since his death, Wells has been depicted several times in fiction, often in stories involving time travel. He was portrayed by Malcolm McDowell in the film Time After Time (opposite David Warner), David Chandler in the Doctor Who serial "Timelash", and by Terry Kiser and Hamilton Camp in several episodes of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Additionally, comedian Paul F. Tompkins (an occasional RiffTrax collaborator) played a fictionalized version of Wells as the host of The Dead Authors Podcast.
Notes[]
- Several film and television projects have attempted to claim a degree of gravitas by associating themselves with Wells' works. In some cases, these projects have only a tangential connection with Wells' original writings, but he is credited regardless (see Riffed Movies below).
- There is a common misconception that H.G Wells was related to actor and filmmaker Orson Welles, who produced a famous radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds. Orson Welles' family name was spelt "Wells" at one point in its history, but there is no known familial connection to H.G. Wells.
- Similarly, there is no known familial connection between H.G. Wells and Mel Welles.
Riffed Movies[]
- Village of the Giants (Experiment #523) - loosely based on The Food of the Gods
- Riding with Death (Experiment #814) - loosely based on The Invisible Man
- H.G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come (Experiment #1310, RiffTrax) - very loosely based on The Shape of Things to Come
- The Island of Dr. Moreau (RiffTrax) - based on the novel
- The Magic Shop (RiffTrax, RiffTrax Live) - based on the short story