The SCI-FI Connection: Spader, Downey, Richards, Barash

Well, here we've got James Spader and Robert Downey, Jr., who later, decades later, would both show up in "Avengers: The Age of Ultron," with Spader playing the creation of Downey's Tony Stark character. What a fine reunion that must have been, don't you think? I'm sure it was quite a moment when those two realized they were working together again.

Then we have Kim Richards, who did earlier stuff for Disney in the "Escape to Witch Mountain" and "Return from Witch Mountain" films--the first one in particular being classic Disney sci-fi, and featuring Richards and co-star Ike Eisenmann as two aliens hiding in Eddie Albert's RV. And in a supporting role, we have Olivia Barash, the female lead (sort of) in the counterculturally-driven "Repo Man," coincidentally about a car carrying hidden aliens. And "Escape to Witch Mountain" and "Repo Man" both feature magical flying cars that whisk the good guys to safety, as well.

It's like the "lattice of coincidence" mentioned in "Repo Man"...no explanation. No use in looking for one, neither.