Between the modern masterpiece that is The Matrix and the ambitious, sprawling Cloud Atlas (which ranked among my favorite films of 2012), the Wachowskis have more than earned their reputation as science-fiction royalty. So, I’m understandably excited for their next big-budget venture into the genre, this July’s Jupiter Ascending. Starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum, the film tells the tale of Jupiter Jones (Kunis), a young janitor whose genetic similarity to the all-mighty Queen of the Universe makes her the target of multiple interplanetary assassins.
Now, thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we have a new image from the sci-fi blockbuster, which finds Tatum’s character, a half-albino ex-military hunter with wolf and human DNA who winds up protecting Jupiter after originally being sent to kill her, in the midst of an intense firefight. Between the high-tech gun, strange shield and long coat, Tatum looks like a bizarre toss-up between Han Solo and Hellboy.
Jupiter Ascending looks like it will opt for a more action-heavy feel than the heady, philosophical narrative of Cloud Atlas, but with its terrific cast, that might not be such a bad thing. In addition to Kunis and Tatum, the film also stars Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth, Tuppence Middleton, James D’Arcy, Tim Pigott-Smith, Doona Bae and Nikki Amuka-Bird.
The official plot synopsis for Jupiter Ascending reads as follows:
From the streets of Chicago to the far-flung galaxies whirling through space, “Jupiter Ascending” tells the story of Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), who was born under a night sky, with signs predicting she was destined for great things. Now grown, Jupiter dreams of the stars but wakes up to the cold reality of a job cleaning other people’s houses and an endless run of bad breaks. Only when Caine (Channing Tatum), a genetically engineered ex-military hunter, arrives on Earth to track her down does Jupiter begin to glimpse the fate that has been waiting for her all along—her genetic signature marks her as next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos.
Are you excited for the Wachowskis’ latest offering, or does the film’s heavy sci-fi premise not appeal to you? Let us know what you think about Jupiter Ascending in the comments section!
Jupiter Ascending hits theaters in 3D on July 18th, 2014.
