When art imitates life? Find out how MSU experts may have played a leading role in a blockbuster hitting the big screens this winter

The film “Don’t Look Up” starring Hollywood A-listers Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio who play a faculty-graduate student pair from Michigan State University’s astronomy department, trying to save the world from a killer comet.

Seth Jacobson, assistant professor in the department of physics and astronomy at Michigan State University, is the real-life version of DiCaprio’s character, Dr. Randall Mindy.

Jacobson discusses how the movie got the science right regarding the killer comet and appropriately captured how scientists and astronomers would respond to such a discovery. He said the rest of the plot of the movie becomes more of an allegory for how we're dealing with the catastrophic threat of climate change.

And why MSU? Jacobson says the producers and directors chose MSU because has one of the one of the top-ranked physics and astronomy departments in the country.

The film is getting a lot of attention and if you are a reporter looking to cover the role MSU played in the film, or if you are curious about physics and astronomy – then let us help with your coverage.

Seth Jacobson is available to speak with media. Simply contact: Kim Ward to arrange an interview today.

Kim Ward, University Communications: (517) 432-0117, kward@msu.edu