Colby Day’s ‘In the Blink of an Eye’ Premieres on Disney+ Following Sundance Win

The highly anticipated science fiction film, In the Blink of an Eye, written by Colby Day, will debut on Disney+ on February 27, 2026, shortly after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize.^{[1, 2, 6]} The film, which began as a script on The Black List in 2016, offers a unique narrative structure, weaving together three distinct timelines.

A Multi-Layered Narrative

In the Blink of an Eye doesn’t follow a traditional linear storyline. Instead, it presents three interwoven narratives. The film explores the lives of a Neanderthal family struggling for survival in 45,000 BC, a contemporary academic couple, Claire (Rashida Jones) and Greg (Daveed Diggs), grappling with unspoken feelings while conducting anthropological research and a lone astronaut, Coakley (Kate McKinnon), facing a crisis aboard a spaceship centuries in the future.^{[3, 4]}

From Script to Screen: A Long Journey

Colby Day, a filmmaker, screenwriter, and playwright, was named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “25 Screenwriters to Watch” in 2024, in collaboration with the Austin Film Festival.^[1] His script for In the Blink of an Eye gained recognition on The Black List in 2016, but it took years to secure funding and bring the ambitious project to fruition.^{[2, 11]}

Andrew Stanton’s Return to Live-Action

The film is directed by Andrew Stanton, known for his function on Pixar classics such as Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, and WALL-E.^{[1, 4]} While Stanton experienced a financial setback with his live-action film, John Carter, In the Blink of an Eye marks his return to directing live-action projects.^[4] The film has been compared to works like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Interstellar, Magnolia, and Cloud Atlas, suggesting a thought-provoking and philosophical exploration of humanity and time.^[4]

Exploring Existential Themes

In the Blink of an Eye delves into profound questions about mortality, meaning, and the significance of human existence.^[4] The film invites viewers on an existential odyssey, prompting reflection on what it means to be human across vast stretches of time.^[4]

Colby Day’s first feature film as a writer/director, The Comedy Hour, was announced in 2025.^[1] He has also adapted the science fiction novel Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky for Lionsgate.^[1]

Sources:

1. Colby Day – Wikipedia
2. In the Blink of an Eye to premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival
3. In The Blink of An Eye | 2026 Sundance Film Festival
4. Finding Hope in the Vastness: A Conversation with ‘In the Blink of an Eye’ Writer Colby Day