Josh Hutcherson’s Unique Sci-Fi Series, Future Man, Tackles Time Travel

Though time travel is one of the most difficult sci-fi tropes to nail, Josh Hutcherson’s 2017 three-part series was able to make it work with a sharp point of view. Future Man, which Hutcherson starred in alongside Eliza Coupe and Derek Wilson, had an inventive approach to the sci-fi trope. The Hulu original may not have received widespread attention, but it was a unique series.

While some sci-fi franchises that make a cultural impact on the genre as a whole, others find themselves quietly moving the needle and gaining traction long after their time on the air. Future Man ran for three seasons from 2017 to 2020, and used a chaotic sense of humor to find its footing. Using an experimental formula and a rich sense of humor, the show took massive risks.

Josh Hutcherson’s Future Man Tackled Time Travel Differently Than Most Sci-Fi Shows

Following Josh Futturman (Hutcherson), Future Man starts out with a fairly standard premise. Josh, a janitor who doesn’t seem to have much ambition, becomes humanity’s unlikely savior after beating a video game that most feel is unbeatable. As the first person in human history to beat Biotic Wars, Josh is visited by two soldiers from the future who recruit him to help fight the forthcoming apocalypse.

With familiar time travel tropes, Future Man resembles other shows within the genre. Josh is recruited by Tiger (Coupe) and Wolf (Wilson), who bring him into the fight, but the mechanics of time travel aren’t as straightforward as they seem. What makes Future Man stand out in its crowded genre comes down to the way the show treats time travel, which is often chaotic.

Rather than Tiger and Wolf knowing about how time travel works and helping Josh, things are often unstable, and the show moves through different timelines and alternate universes. Throughout the series, the same characters appear in completely different ways, with altered personalities, looks, and backstories depending on what timeline Josh finds himself in. Openly acknowledging its chaos, the series is also quick to pay homage to its influences.

With references to classics like The Terminator and Back To The Future hidden in plain sight, Future Man tries to make it clear that they aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but gathering all the references for time travel that they can. The series acknowledging its influences and using them to build a new space makes the show feel like a fresh take on a familiar trope.

Future Man Is One Of The Most Underrated Sci-Fi Shows In Recent Memory

Despite its different approach, Future Man wasn’t able to break through to the mainstream while it was on the air. The show did build a cult following who rooted for its renewal and were excited to jump into new seasons, but ultimately, Future Man flew under the radar throughout its run. Regardless of its success, however, the show is one of the best sci-fi stories in recent memory.

Future Man is an ambitious story with a fascinating way of jumping around through space and time. By making it clear that the science of time travel is imperfect and fluid, the show was able to play with its characters, consistently allowing the material to feel fresh for the actors and viewers. The show was able to contort within itself, and that constant sense of reinvention pushed the envelope.

Why Future Man Is No Longer Available On Hulu (& Where To Watch)

Although Future Man is a Hulu original, the show has been removed from the platform, which makes it difficult to find. Removed back in 2023 as part of a cost-cutting restructure, Future Man didn’t seem like a priority for the platform to house, which is a tough blow to those who enjoyed the series. As it’s now far less accessible, the show hasn’t reached new viewers consistently in years.

Unfortunately, Future Man isn’t currently available on any streaming platform within the US. Viewers can currently purchase all three seasons of Future Man on digital platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV, but it’s possible that in the future, the series will find a new home on streaming. Future Man may have faded from the conversation, but its hidden gem status makes it even more worth the watch.