'' The Time Machine '' is a 2002 American science fiction film loosely adapted from the 1895 novel of the same name by H. G. Wells and the screenplay of the 1960 film of the same name by David Duncan . Arnold Leibovit served as executive producer and Simon Wells , the great-grandson of the original author , served as director . The film stars Guy Pearce , Orlando Jones , Samantha Mumba , Mark Addy , and Jeremy Irons , and includes a cameo by Alan Young , who also appeared in the 1960 film adaptation . The film is set in New York City instead of London , and contains new story elements not present in the original novel nor the 1960 film adaptation , including a romantic backstory , a new scenario about how civilization was destroyed , and several new characters such as an artificially intelligent hologram and a Morlock leader . It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Makeup ( John M. Elliot Jr. and Barbara Lorenz ) at the 75th Academy Awards , but lost to '' Frida ''
75th Academy Awards
75th Academy Awards
The Time Machine (2002 film)