Jack Finney's classic novel "The Body Snatchers" has invaded the big screen again -- and this time, Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman and James Bond star Daniel Craig are along for the thrill ride.

Appropriately it's called "The Invasion," the third film based on the 1955 novel that follows the indelible footprints left by Don Siegel's 1956 black-and-white original and Philip Kaufman's 1978 remake -- both titled "Invasion of the Body Snatchers."

Mirroring contemporary social and political themes, the 2007 "Invasion" stars Kidman as Carol Bennell, a Washington, D.C., psychiatrist whose world changes forever when the remnants of a space shuttle explosion rain down over the U.S. Attached to the wreckage is an alien substance that attacks its victims as they sleep -- rendering them emotionless and inhuman -- and the infection is spreading fast.

Along with her friend, Dr. Ben Driscoll (Craig), Bennell discovers the shocking truth behind the pandemic, but faces the ominous struggle to stay awake long enough to find her young son, Oliver (Jackson Bond) -- who may be the key to stopping the invasion before it's too late.

Kidman recently answered questions about the film via e-mail from Australia, where she's filming the Baz Luhrmann-directed epic love story "Australia," co-starring fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman.

Tim Lammers: One of my most vivid memories of growing up in the 1960s and 70s was watching the midnight "Creature Features" on local TV on weekends, and the 1956 version of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was one of my favorites. Bearing that film in mind and Kaufman's 1978 remake, what kind of different spin, creatively, do you think your "Invasion" has that separates it from the other two?

Nicole Kidman: Yeah, I've heard from a lot of people that they have really vivid memories of those film. I had not seen either when I signed on, so what I was drawn to were the elements of the script that dealt with the mother-son relationship and the sort of thrill ride quality.

TL: Of course, "The Invasion" has the power to induce a primal fear in all of us, maybe not so much over the worry of falling into a zombie-like emotionless state, but how quickly a virus can overtake the population. Given that realistic scenario, I can't help but think the material rattled your nerves a bit (unless you've conditioned yourself to repeat the mantra, "It's only a movie ? It's only a movie ?).

NK: I think that anyone in this age of jet travel and instant news is concerned with, or at least acutely aware of, how rapidly germs can spread. Just look at the story about the tb bridegroom! To me it makes the story very contemporary.

TL: Sorry to say, we live in an age now where agendas are furthered through the propagation of fear. Do you believe the element of fear in "The Invasion" -- the fear of the pandemic and the fear of the unknown -- infused in the film should be heeded as a cautionary tale? Or don't you want people to read into it that much? (which is to say that first and foremost, you want your audience to be entertained).

NK: Definitely I want people, first, to be (entertained). This film genre is all about having a communal roller coaster ride. But I also think that the storyline lends a kind of resonance that, hopefully, enhances the experience.

TL: Unfortunately, part of your experience on "The Invasion" involved some real-life scary situations -- namely that nasty car crash during filming. How does a frightening incident like that alter your perspective when fleshing out a role? Is it a matter of picking yourself up and dusting yourself off -- or does that sudden vulnerability consciously or subconsciously affect your performance going forward?

NK: I was in shock for at least a few hours after it happened, I think that's a natural physical reaction to any sort of trauma, you go into a kind of suspended state. My ribs were still healing when I went back to work, but I seem to have a pretty high tolerance for pain, so I was able to finish ... just a bit gingerly!

TL: Your name has become synonymous with some many different film genres -- but it seems that closest you've come to doing sci-fi or horror films prior to "The Invasion" perhaps came with "Batman Forever," and most specifically, "The Others." I'm sure you were bombarded with similar scripts after that -- but what was it about the sci-fi/horror stylings of "The Invasion" script that made it more appealing than the others, so to speak?

NK: What appealed to me in this script was the relationship between mother and child, that powerful urge to protect the young, so there were things to explore -- as an actor -- both psychologically and physically, because of the action elements too. I actually have a film in development at my production company that is based on this fantastic Columbian horror film, "Al final del espectro," and the same director will be doing the English language version, so that's pretty exciting

TL: And of course, it makes it a whole lot easier to sign on to a film when you have some extraordinarily talented people to work with, like Daniel Craig, whom I know you worked with on "The Golden Compass" as well. Was it happenstance that the two of you ended up working on each film together in a close period of time, or was it by design, given his gift for acting and charisma?

NK: Complete happenstance, but aren't I lucky! We actually shot "Invasion" before "The Golden Compass", and it was before "Casino Royale" had opened, so it was great fun to watch him go from great actor to great actor/movie star.

TL: I'm happy to see that as someone whose won the top prize in her profession, and that there is no movie genre beneath you. Is there a type of movie out there that you haven't done that you'd like to attempt -- perhaps one that would really surprise us?

NK: I'm always looking for challenges. I think that projects appeal to me not based on whether they are a certain genre, or not, but on whether the material is strong, unusual, bold, and if the director is someone who will challenge me.

TL: Until next time, congratulations on all of your success and here's to much more of it-- not only with "The Invasion," but "The Golden Compass" and "Australia" with Hugh!

NK: Thanks -- we are having a fantastic time filming here in Australia.