Deep Impact (1998) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A comet crisis tests humanity through scientific discovery, governmental responsibility, personal sacrifice, and collective survival.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Photograph Against the Sky

Leo Biederman discovers an unidentified object, and its image leads to recognition of a comet threatening Earth. The initial warning is lost when Marcus Wolf dies trying to raise the alarm.

Key Events

• Leo Spots the Object — Leo photographs an unidentified object in the night sky. Characters: Leo Biederman Location: Richmond astronomy club star party
• Comet Course Identified — The image reaches Marcus Wolf, who identifies a comet on course for Earth. Characters: Leo Biederman Location: Astronomical analysis facility
• Wolf Dies Raising Alarm — Marcus Wolf dies in a car crash while trying to raise the alarm. Location: Virginia roadway

The Secret Behind Ellie

Jenny Lerner investigates Alan Rittenhouse and uncovers preparations that appear to involve a hidden personal secret. President Beck reveals that the secret is an extinction-level event.

Key Events

• Lerner Investigates Rittenhouse — Jenny investigates Alan's connection with a mysterious woman called Ellie. Characters: Jenny Lerner, Alan Rittenhouse Location: Washington, D.C.
• Secret Supplies Discovered — Jenny sees Alan loading a boat with food and survival equipment. Characters: Jenny Lerner, Alan Rittenhouse Location: Rittenhouse residence
• FBI Takes Lerner — The FBI apprehends Jenny and takes her to meet President Beck. Characters: Jenny Lerner Location: Washington, D.C.
• Beck Negotiates Secrecy — Beck asks Jenny to withhold the story in exchange for a major press-conference role. Characters: Jenny Lerner, President Tom Beck Location: Presidential meeting room
• E.L.E. Decoded — Jenny discovers that Ellie means extinction-level event. Characters: Jenny Lerner, Alan Rittenhouse Location: Newsroom
• Comet Threat Announced — Beck announces the comet and warns that humanity may face extinction. Characters: Jenny Lerner, President Tom Beck, Leo Biederman Location: National press conference

Messiah's Broken Mission

The Messiah crew attempts to plant nuclear bombs inside the comet. The operation fails to redirect it and instead divides the threat into Wolf and Biederman.

Key Events

• Messiah Mission Prepared — The United States and Russia prepare Messiah to alter the comet's path. Characters: President Tom Beck, Oren Monash, Gus Partenza Location: Space mission control
• Messiah Launches — The multinational crew launches toward the comet. Characters: Oren Monash, Gus Partenza Location: Earth orbit
• Bombs Drilled Into Comet — The crew lands on the comet and drills bombs beneath its surface. Characters: Oren Monash, Gus Partenza Location: Comet surface
• Sunlight Disrupts Mission — The comet shifts into sunlight, blinding Oren and propelling Gus into space. Characters: Oren Monash, Gus Partenza Location: Comet surface
• Comet Splits Apart — The bombs detonate but split the comet instead of deflecting it. Characters: Oren Monash, Gus Partenza Location: Outer space
• Two Comets Named — Beck announces the failure and identifies the larger Wolf and smaller Biederman fragments. Characters: President Tom Beck, Jenny Lerner Location: National broadcast

Shelters and Impossible Choices

Martial law, shelter selection, and failed missile defenses divide families and communities. Leo chooses to return for Sarah while Jenny faces a morally painful evacuation decision.

Key Events

• Shelter Lottery Begins — Martial law begins and a lottery selects civilians for underground shelters. Characters: Jenny Lerner, Leo Biederman, President Tom Beck Location: United States
• Biederman Family Selected — The Biedermans receive pre-selected shelter access because Leo discovered the comet. Characters: Leo Biederman Location: Virginia
• Final Missile Attempt Fails — A last attempt to deflect the comet with ICBMs fails. Characters: President Tom Beck Location: United States command center
• Leo Leaves Shelter — Leo abandons the shelter route and rides back toward Virginia to find Sarah. Characters: Leo Biederman Location: Missouri shelter route
• Lerner Gives Up Seat — Jenny gives her evacuation seat to a colleague and the colleague's young daughter. Characters: Jenny Lerner Location: Evacuation helicopter site

Fire Across the Heavens

Biederman devastates coastal regions with a megatsunami, while the Messiah crew sacrifices itself inside Wolf. The surviving population begins rebuilding after the final threat is broken apart.

Key Events

• Lerner Reconciles — Jenny travels to her childhood beach home and reconciles with her estranged father. Characters: Jenny Lerner Location: Childhood beach home
• Biederman Hits Atlantic — Biederman strikes the Atlantic and creates a megatsunami across coastal regions. Characters: Leo Biederman Location: Atlantic Ocean near Cape Hatteras
• Survivors Reach Mountains — Leo and other survivors reach safety in the Appalachian foothills. Characters: Leo Biederman Location: Appalachian foothills
• Messiah Final Sacrifice — The crew flies into Wolf and detonates its remaining nuclear bombs. Characters: Oren Monash, Gus Partenza Location: Inside comet Wolf
• Wolf Breaks Apart — Millions of fragments burn harmlessly in the atmosphere, preventing further catastrophe. Characters: Oren Monash, Gus Partenza Location: Earth's atmosphere
• Rebuilding Announced — Beck addresses survivors and announces the beginning of rebuilding. Characters: President Tom Beck Location: Replacement United States Capitol

Story Breakdown

• Comet Discovery — A teenager's observation begins the chain of events that exposes the planetary threat.
  • Leo Spots Object — Leo photographs an unidentified object during an astronomy club star party.
  • Wolf Identifies Threat — Marcus Wolf recognizes the object as a comet headed toward Earth.
• Hidden Government Crisis — Jenny's investigation uncovers preparations linked to the approaching extinction-level event.
  • Rittenhouse Investigated — Jenny examines Alan Rittenhouse's mysterious connection with Ellie.
  • E.L.E. Revealed — Jenny learns that Ellie means extinction-level event.
• Public Disclosure — President Beck transforms a secret crisis into a national emergency through controlled disclosure.
  • Beck Negotiates — Beck asks Jenny to delay publication and join the press conference.
  • Threat Announced — Beck tells the public that the comet may cause human extinction.
• Messiah Mission — An international space mission attempts to change the comet's trajectory with nuclear explosives.
  • Crew Reaches Comet — Oren and Gus join the Messiah crew in landing on the comet.
  • Mission Fails — Sunlight disrupts the operation and the bombs split the comet.
• Shelter Lottery — Governments impose emergency controls and select a limited population for underground shelters.
  • Survival Selection — A lottery and pre-selection process determines who receives shelter access.
  • Missiles Fail — A final ICBM attempt cannot deflect the comet fragments.
• Personal Sacrifice — The crisis forces Leo and Jenny to make choices centered on family, loyalty, and responsibility.
  • Leo Returns — Leo leaves the shelter route to search for Sarah in Virginia.
  • Jenny Relinquishes Seat — Jenny gives her helicopter seat to a colleague and the colleague's daughter.
• Twin Catastrophes — Biederman strikes the Atlantic while Wolf remains a final planetary threat.
  • Megatsunami Strikes — Biederman creates a megatsunami that devastates coastal regions.
  • Survivors Reach Safety — Leo and other survivors reach the Appalachian foothills.
• Final Mission Sacrifice — The Messiah crew accepts death to destroy the larger comet fragment and preserve life on Earth.
  • Wolf Penetration — The crew flies the spacecraft deep inside Wolf.
  • Atmospheric Fireworks — The remaining bombs break Wolf into fragments that burn in the atmosphere.
• Rebuilding Tomorrow — After the catastrophe is averted, survivors begin reconstructing their national home.
  • Presidential Address — Beck speaks to thousands at a replacement Capitol.
  • National Reconstruction — The United States begins rebuilding after the Messiah saves the planet.

Directed by

Mimi Leder

Key Cast

• Robert Duvall — Capt. Spurgeon 'Fish' Tanner
• Téa Leoni — Jenny Lerner
• Elijah Wood — Leo Biederman
• Vanessa Redgrave — Robin Lerner
• Morgan Freeman — President Tom Beck