Daley Pearson, co-creator of the popular children’s show Bluey, has developed his first live-action film, ‘Allen,’ which explores themes of childhood nostalgia and the impact of losing a loved one. The film follows Petey, a man who formed a deep bond with an alien named Allen during his childhood, only to lose him suddenly. Decades later, Petey remains fixated on recapturing that magical connection, mirroring Pearson’s own experience after his older brother Liam died of cancer at age 26. Pearson has not previously spoken publicly about his brother’s death, but the film has become a way for him to process his grief. ‘He was the best thing ever to me,’ Pearson says of his brother, emphasizing how the loss shaped his attachment to childhood pop culture. The film, co-directed with Jeffrey Walker and co-written with Sophie Miller, is packed with nostalgic references to 1980s and 1990s pop culture, including ET, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Lion King, reflecting Pearson’s own childhood. Pearson explains that the film is ‘about the dangers of nostalgia absolutely packed with nostalgia,’ highlighting how his own life has been influenced by clinging to the past. The character Allen, a bug-eyed alien, required extensive development to avoid becoming a ‘Jar Jar Binks-y’ or overly comedic figure. Pearson wanted Allen to be introspective rather than zany, leading to a puppet-based design with subtle VFX for expressions. The film, set to release on Netflix on November 12, also connects to Pearson’s other work, including the horror film ‘Talk To Me,’ which similarly deals with themes of not letting go. Pearson acknowledges the irony that both projects explore similar emotional territory, saying, ‘I guess you are what you are what you are.’ Despite the film’s deeper themes, Pearson emphasizes it’s meant to be a fun, family-friendly experience with ‘a silly, stupid alien who sings karaoke.’ The film’s development was lengthy, with Pearson noting, ‘People would have invented six new Boeing planes in the time we created Allen,’ due to the challenges of bringing Allen to life and balancing the film with his ongoing work on Bluey. Pearson also reflects on the pressure of Bluey’s success, stating, ‘Bluey has been the luckiest thing in the world,’ and that he still feels the need to prove himself despite the show’s global success. The film aims to balance emotional depth with lighthearted fun, offering both children and adults a chance to reflect on the magic of childhood while acknowledging the pain of loss.