How the first large-scale Thai space film came together, everything that led up to the Special Version, and what critics and audiences around the world say about it.
Bonded in their youth, separated by tragedy - an astronaut and a free diver bend space and time to find each other again.
Uranus 2324 is a 2024 Thai queer romance and science-fiction film directed by James Thanadol and produced by Keetawat Chinnakote. It stars Sarocha Chankimha and Rebecca Patricia Armstrong, appearing together for the umpteenth time, popularly known as the pairing “FreenBecky”. Set against a futuristic backdrop, the story explores themes of love, identity and destiny.
The film was released in Thailand on 4 July 2024 with a runtime of 130 minutes. It also screened at international festivals including the Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift and received several nominations - at the 13th Thailand Social Awards, the Thailand Box Office Movies & Series Awards 2024, and the Thailand Y Content Awards 2024. It has been considered the first Thai space film, and critics praised its technical innovations, visuals and practical effects alongside the performances of Armstrong and Chankimha.
We are bringing the Special Version (Director's Cut) to Czech cinemas - the cut VelCurve Studio first screened in Thailand in August 2026. It is a completely re-edited version, twenty minutes longer, running 2.5 hours (150 minutes), not the original 2024 theatrical release.
More on the differences below ↓Nobody in Thailand had attempted a film at this scale in this genre. VelCurve built the hardware rather than faking it on a green screen.
A full-scale spacecraft and a virtual space station were constructed for the production, with the station's design taking its cues from NASA's Lunar Gateway. The set was opened to press in March 2024 as a milestone for Thai film production.
Uranus 2324 was one of four Thai films from the 2023-24 production slate selected by the Thai government to receive Ministry of Culture funding aimed at promoting Thailand's soft power abroad - and one of the few projects fully approved in that fiscal year.
Through September and October 2023 the leads worked through dedicated workshops in acting, stunts, free diving and English-language scientific dialogue before a frame was shot - filming itself only began at the end of November 2023, in New York.
According to an interview with Sony Alpha Universe, cinematographer Arnon Chunprasert shot exterior and space visual-effects work on the Sony VENICE 2 (16-bit RAW X-OCN XT), while the smaller, more light-sensitive BURANO handled handheld action and underwater footage. The VelCurve crew described the space scenes as the hardest part of the shoot - unlike the underwater work, where the team already had experience, the space aesthetic demanded an entirely new approach to specialised gear and visual effects.
Behind-the-scenes photography: Sony Alpha Universe / VelCurve Studio.
“Across every universe, I still find you."
Two years after its debut, VelCurve brought Uranus 2324 back to Thai cinemas in an extended cut. The Special Version opened on 6 August 2026 and runs 150 minutes - twenty minutes longer than the theatrical release - restoring footage that never made the 2024 edit.
For anyone who has already seen it, that is twenty minutes of Kath and Lin that did not exist on screen before. For anyone who hasn't, it is the fullest version of the film there is - and it is exactly this version we are bringing to its European premiere in Prague.
+20 minutes of additional footage
The film does not follow a single timeline - Lin and Kath meet across several versions of reality, from the "real world" of 2547 (Thai calendar, i.e. 2004/2547 Buddhist Era) to alternate worlds set in 2488 (the Free Thai resistance during WWII) or 2567/2607. In every version, the two characters share a similar story with a different ending.
The astronaut
In the real world Lin lives happily in Takua Pa, where dark skies free of light pollution draw her to astronomy. Her telescope and camera bring her close to Kath - they give each other courage: Kath teaches her to dive, Lin introduces her to the stars. Their favourite planet is Uranus, a symbol of a dream that seems unreachable.
The free diver
Kath grows up by the sea in Takua Pa, drawn to the water, the wind and the sun since childhood - despite her mother's disapproval, diving teaches her what freedom feels like. She falls for Lin at first sight, and their relationship gives her the courage to chase her own dream: breaking the world free-diving record.
Kath's mother
A former competitive free diver who gives up diving after her husband Yu mysteriously vanishes at sea, and whose own fear damages her relationship with her daughter Kath. She entrusts Kath's safety during training to Lin, and later to Friend - Rose carries the loss of both her husband and her daughter for the rest of her life.
Kath's closest friend
A sharp high-school student who spends her time at Kath's family photo shop and becomes her devoted friend and protector. In one parallel version she appears as Prim, a cautious member of the Free Thai resistance movement during WWII.
Kath's father
The owner of the family photo shop, passionate about underwater photography - he vanishes without a trace at sea while Kath is still a young girl. In another version of reality he is instead Tian Wang, the owner of an opera troupe who secretly supports the anti-Japanese resistance.
Lin's father
The owner of a coffee-and-records shop in Takua Pa, a calm and upbeat man who raises Lin alone after his divorce and is both her support and the storyteller who fills her head with tales of the stars.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Lin | Sarocha „Freen“ Chankimha |
| Kath | Rebecca „Becky“ Patricia Armstrong |
| Rose (Kath's mother) | Siriam Pakdeedumrongrit (Ann) |
| Yu (Kath's father) | Amarin Nitibhon |
| Phak (Lin's father) | Ninnart Sinchai (Joe) |
| Friend / Prim | Torfan Taweema |
| Astronaut Thomas Weston | Christopher Gerber |
| Lin (elder, voice) | Usha Seamkhum |
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Thanadol „James“ Nualsuth |
| Screenplay | Thitipong Chaisati, Nut Nualpang |
| Producer | Keetawat Chinnakote (VelCurve) |
| Cinematography | Arnon Chunprasert |
| Editing | Wasupol Sripuk / VelCurve Motion Post |
| Music | Ekkaphop Khiaoyasit, Teerraphong Prathumrat |
| Production companies | VelCurve Co., Ltd., ve spolupráci s GM Generates |
VelCurve unveiled Uranus 2324 at a press conference in Bangkok and released the first trailer, which quickly racked up millions of views.
The first clapperboard fell in New York, following workshops in acting, stunts and free diving.
The press were shown the set with the full-scale spacecraft and the virtual space station inspired by NASA's Lunar Gateway project.
The main scenes most demanding for post-production wrapped at a studio in Bangkok; production reported it was 80% complete.
The hashtag #URANUS2324OfficialTrailer trended in more than 20 countries within an hour of release.
A gala premiere in Bangkok, followed by release in Thai cinemas and, simultaneously, cinemas in Laos.
After nearly five months in cinemas, the film arrived on Netflix (first the US, then Thailand and Southeast Asia).
The film appeared on Prime Video (US, Europe) and MyMovies One (Italy), later reaching Latin America as well.
For the film's second anniversary, VelCurve brought the completely re-edited Special Version (150 min) back to Thai cinemas.
The Special Version holds its first European screening in Prague, at Kino Dlabačov, distributed by INVIVERSE.
| Year | Award / category | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift - Best Director (Thanadol Nualsuth) | Nomination |
| 2024 | Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift - Best Screenplay | Nomination |
| 2024 | Thailand Box Office Movies & Series Awards - film of the year, director, actresses, supporting role, song | Nominations (multiple categories) |
| 2024 | 13th Thailand Social Awards - Best Social Media Performance (film) | 2nd place |
| 2024 | Thailand Y Content Awards - Best Film | Nomination |
| 2024 | Thailand Moral Awards - Honorable Mention (film) | Winner |
| 2025 | Idol Star Thai Awards Mexico - Best Thai LGBTQ+ Film Production | Winner |
| 2025 | HUB Awards - Song of the Year (Sparkles) | Nomination |
| 2025 | 33rd Suphannahong National Film Awards - Best Visual Effects, Best Song, Popular Movie | Winner (Popular Movie), nominations (effects, song) |
| 2025 | Lesbocine - Top Sapphic Characters of 2025 (Kath at #9, Lin at #13) | Ranking |
| 2026 | Bangkok Pride Awards - Pride Popular of Movie | Winner |
The film also screened at Asian Contents & Film Market 2023, the 28th Busan International Film Festival, TIFFCOM 2023 and the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival, and had its first poster unveiling at Cannes 2024 (Thai Nights) and Hong Kong Filmart 2024.
One European premiere screening, Kino Dlabačov.
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