While you may not see her face, Lupita Nyong'o is part of a slightly successful science fiction film currently doing the rounds that features Stars, War and something about a Force Awakening. She's now looking at another project, entering talks to star in Intelligent Life.
And if this one comes together, it could be quite the combination of filmmaking talent, as the script comes from Jurassic World duo Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly and Selma's Ava DuVernay is about to receive an offer to direct it.
Intelligent Life is Trevorrow and Connolly expanding on an earlier script they wrote called The Ambassador, which boasts the Twilight Zone-esque concept of a man who works in the department created to represent humanity in the event of alien contact. He falls for a mysterious woman – Nyong'o, if she takes the role – who turns out to be an extra-terrestrial. Wonder if she also runs an intergalactic watering hole that has had trouble with a military bunch bent on domination?
Steven Spielberg's Amblin company is backing the film, with Jurassic World producer Frank Marshall on board to oversee it. DuVernay's involvement is subject to her agreeing to take it on, but it would be fascinating to see her considerable filmmaking skills to this genre. And it's not the only project she's considering: Disney is offering her the director's job on book adaptation A Wrinkle In Time, and The Hollywood Reporter suggests the timing is such that she could end up doing both.
Assuming the pieces all fall into place, Intelligent Life will start shooting this summer. Nyong'o will be heard rather than seen again as the voice of Raksha in The Jungle Book, out here on April 15. You can see the new trailer for Jon Favreau's film right here.