It what sounds a little like the latest big-screen take on a tale that could show up either within the pages of a speculative fiction tome or on TV in Black Mirror, new sci-fi rom-com The Pod Generation is looking at pregnancy in a fresh, tech way. Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Ejiofor are locked in to star.
Cold Souls director Sophie Barthes is behind this one, which is set in a near future where AI is all the rage and nature is becoming a distant memory. The story revolves around Rachel (Clarke) and Alvy (Ejiofor), a New York couple who are ready to take their relationship to the next level and start a family. Rachel’s work gives them a chance to use a new tool developed by a tech giant, Pegasus, which offers couples the opportunity to share pregnancy on a more equal footing via detachable artificial wombs, or pods. Alvy, a botanist and devoted purist, has doubts, but his love for Rachel prompts him to take a leap of faith. And so begins the wild ride to parenthood in this brave new world...
"Working with Emilia and Chiwetel as a couple on screen is a dream come true," Barthes tells Variety. "Emilia’s versatility, her disarming sense of humor and capacity to navigate complex emotions are a perfect match to Chiwetel’s charisma and extraordinary screen presence."
The cameras should be rolling in March next year, which means the time up to then counts as a... wait for it... pregnant pause.
We'll show ourselves out.