Hulu’s "Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice" Reinvents Time Travel Genre by Ditching Scientists for Gangsters

"Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice" ditches scientists for gangsters in a new time-travel action comedy starring Vince Vaughn and James Marsden.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 15, 2026, 5:59 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Screen Rant

A Subversive Take on Science Fiction

Director and writer BenDavid Grabinski is aiming to disrupt the classic time-travel trope that relies on a "Doc Brown" or "Hulk" figure to explain the mechanics of the universe. In an interview at SXSW, Grabinski revealed that he deliberately excluded scientists from the script to avoid exposition-heavy scenes. Instead, the film focuses on the comedic and chaotic consequences of untrained individuals stumbling upon high-concept technology. Lead actress Eiza González noted that the director chose to replace the traditional lab-coat-wearing experts with hardened criminals, creating a "science fiction movie with no scientists."

The Double Nick Dynamic

The film’s central hook involves Vince Vaughn playing two different versions of his character, Nick. Grabinski was inspired by the idea of "Scrooge at the end of the story interacting with Scrooge at the top of the story," exploring how a version of a person with more "wisdom and life perspective" would clash with their younger, more reckless self. This buddy-comedy setup, featuring James Marsden as Mike, allows the film to find humor in the protagonists' total ignorance of time-travel paradoxes or consequences.

Release and Star-Studded Ensemble

Following its successful premiere at the SXSW festival, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is scheduled to debut on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ on March 27. The R-rated crime comedy features a deep bench of comedic and dramatic talent, including: