In January, news began to filter through the ether that Natalie Portman was considering packing her bags for science fiction territory, mulling a reunion with V For Vendetta producers the Wachowskis and their new project Jupiter Ascending. But it would appear she’s passed as Warner Bros. now has offers out to Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis for the lead roles.
Jupiter Ascending comes wrapped in Lana and Andy Wachowski’s now trademark smog of secrecy, with Deadline’s many Bothans dying to bring scant few details on the planned film. It’s an original creation by the pair, and should be shooting before the year is out. Oh, and they want it to stand with The Matrix as an action pic with hefty thoughts on its mind. Beyond that… the shields are still up.
It’s not surprising that the Wachowskis would target Tatum and Kunis, though. The former has been smashing assumptions about himself all over the place and enjoying box office success with the likes of The Vow and 21 Jump Street. Kunis is coming off of the likes of Black Swan and Friends With Benefits and has Seth McFarlane’s buzzed-about comedy Ted set for release on August 3 with Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great And Powerful following on March 8, 2013.