<Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $264.1 million </Td> </Tr> <P> The Truman Show is a 1998 American satirical science fiction film directed by Peter Weir, produced by Scott Rudin, Andrew Niccol, Edward S. Feldman, and Adam Schroeder, and written by Niccol . The film stars Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, adopted and raised by a corporation inside a simulated television show revolving around his life, until he discovers it and decides to escape; additional roles are provided by Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor, Ed Harris, and Brian Delate . </P> <P> The Truman Show was originally a spec script by Niccol, inspired by an episode of The Twilight Zone called "Special Service". Unlike the finished product, it was more of a science - fiction thriller, with the story set in New York City . Scott Rudin purchased the script, and set up production at Paramount Pictures . Brian De Palma was to direct before Weir signed as director, making the film for $60 million--$20 million less than the original estimate . Niccol rewrote the script while the crew was waiting for Carrey to sign . The majority of filming took place at Seaside, Florida, a master - planned community located in the Florida Panhandle . </P> <P> The film was a financial success, debuting to critical acclaim, and earned numerous nominations at the 71st Academy Awards, 56th Golden Globe Awards, 52nd British Academy Film Awards and The Saturn Awards . The Truman Show has been analyzed as a thesis on Christianity, metaphilosophy, simulated reality, existentialism and reality television . </P>

Where did the idea for the truman show come from