Who kidnapped Jason in Dark Matter? Identity of the Kidnapper, explored

Dark Matter is a 2016 science fiction novel authored by Blake Crouch, which was adapted into an Apple TV+ series that premiered on May 8, 2024. The novel and series explore the concept of the multiverse and the many-world interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Dark Matter stars Jason Dessen, a physicist living with his wife, Daniela, and son, Charlie, in Chicago. One day, he's kidnapped and drugged by a masked assailant and transported into an alternate reality where he never married Daniela. Disoriented and desperate to know what's going on, Jason finds himself caught in a multifaceted struggle to return to his true home.

It's revealed that Jason's true abductor is another Jason from a parallel universe. Jason2, as he's called, belongs to a universe where he broke things off with Daniela to focus more on his career and ended up creating a cube that allows him to travel between alternate universes.

Jason2 plots to usurp Jason1's life as a husband because he's wondered what life would be like had he decided to marry Daniela. It's now up to Jason1 to find his way back to his original life and defeat his alternate dimension usurper.

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What is Dark Matter about?

Dark Matter is a science fiction story focused on the concept of the multiverse. It focuses on Jason Dessen, a physicist who's happily married to his wife, Daniela, and has a son named Charlie with her. While at a bar, a masked assailant drugs and kidnaps him.

Jason awakens in an alternate world he doesn't recognize, with people he doesn't know welcoming him back after returning safely from his journey. Jason realizes that, in this reality, a version of himself didn't marry Daniela to focus on his career.

As a result, this alternate Jason, or Jason2, managed to invent a cube device that could allow someone to travel to parallel universes. Jason2 is confirmed to be the man who abducted Jason1 when he infiltrated his family with Daniela to usurp his life.

Jason1 becomes close to Amanda, who used to be Jason2's therapist in the novel, and his girlfriend in the Apple TV series. Together, they try to find a way to get Jason back to his home world so he can get his family back.

They take several detours to alternate dimensions thanks to struggling to understand how the cube works, but eventually, Jason returns to his original world and reveals to Daniela and Charlie that he's been replaced by an impostor.

In response, Jason2 goes on the attack and tries to kill Jason1. After a deadly struggle, Jason kills his alternate-dimensional usurper in self-defense.

However, now that he's aware of the existence of alternate versions of himself and the danger they can pose, he uses the cube to run off with Daniele and Charlie to a parallel universe where they won't be found.

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Dark Matter Apple TV+ cast and characters

The main and recurring cast of Apple TV's Dark Matter are as follows:

• Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen. One variant of Jason is married with a son, while another variant gave up marriage to focus on his career, inventing an interdimensional travel device.
• Jennifer Connolly as Daniela Dessen, Jason1's wife. Jason2 manipulates her into becoming his wife by abducting and replacing Jason1.
• Oakes Fegley as Charles Dessen, Jason and Daniela's son.
• Alice Braga as Amanda Lucas, Jason2's former confidant who helps Jason1 after realizing what's going on.
• Jimmi Simpson as Ryan Holder
• Dayo Okeniyi as Leighton Vance
• Amanda Brugel as Blaire
• Aina Brei-Yon as Dawn Lawrence
• William Smillie as Matt

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Dark Matter has been critically acclaimed for its sci-fi themes and gripping plot. It has an 81% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.