Though they make a point of trying to keep as much about their films as quiet as humanly possible, news has slowly been leaking out about the Wachowski siblings’ new sci-fi project Jupiter Ascending. First there was talk of Natalie Portman considering a role, then word that Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis were in talks. Now, via Tatum himself, comes confirmation that he’s locked in.
Talking with MTV, Tatum admitted that he was indeed part of the movie. And he even talked a little bit about what we can expect: "It's going to be a crazy action movie from the directors of The Matrix. They're going to reinvent the wheel as far as action goes, all over again."
So what is it really all about? Well, Vulture tapped a source that seemed to offer some details, though naturally all of this is still unconfirmed and if it’s true, could end up being more information than you require, so look away now if you’re trying to stay away from any possible details.
According to the source, Jupiter finds Kunis as a Russian immigrant working a low-paid job scrubbing toilets, who is seemingly unaware that she possesses the same perfect genetic makeup as the Queen of the Universe. Naturally, the Queen isn’t amused by that idea, and dispatches a bounty hunter (Tatum) to kill the young woman. But love blossoms instead.
Hhm… A young, beautiful woman is perceived as a threat by a powerful queen who sends someone to kill her only for the two to end up united? Have we heard that one before? Nope, can’t think of anything.
But the idea that the Wachowskis might be looking to pull another Matrix-level shift of the action movie at least makes us excited. Even if we’re hoping they don’t then follow it up with two overstuffed sequels…
The pair’s most recent effort, complex, time / gender / species-spanning novel adaptation Cloud Atlas, is set for release later this year.