Jupiter Ascending

The Wachowskis' Jupiter Ascending Delayed Until 2015

I've expressed my hesitance over The Wachowskis' upcoming film, Jupiter Ascending, since the film's trailers began to trickle out. While the film looks absolutely amazing (as we've come to expect from the sibling duo), the plot doesn't seem to carry the same weight. As always, it's better to be cautious rather than outright dismissive, especially when the two leads are Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis. Apparently, not all is well for the production as Jupiter Ascending has been delayed from its July 18th release to February 6th, 2015.

Warner Bros. has pushed the film back almost seven months due to extra post-production time needed for the film's visual effects. While it's unfortunate to delay a film so close to its release, it's ultimately a better decision on behalf of WB and The Wachowskis if they felt the CGI wasn't up to snuff, considering how CGI-heavy the film will be. In years past, February was a slow month for films, but considering how extremely well The Lego Movie performed this year, it could potentially be an untapped well of film success, especially for a summer blockbuster not releasing in the summer.

[via Collider]


Film still from Jupiter Ascending

[Trailer 2] Jupiter Ascending

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The Wachowskis will be looking to reclaim their glory as cinematic visionaries with this summer's Jupiter Ascending. If you missed the first trailer that was released last December, this new international trailer will clue you in on The Wachowskis' latest venture. Jupiter Ascending stars Mila Kunis (Blood Ties) as the eponymous Jupiter, a Chicagoan that dreams of a life more grandiose than the one in which she lives. Her fortunes change when a mysterious man (Channing Tatum) whisks her away into a galaxy full of sci-fi space things and the like, telling Jupiter that she might be the next in a long line of royalty.

When I saw the first trailer, I drew an allegorical connection between Jupiter Ascending and Snow White, which I still stand by, but it will also draw direct comparisons to The Matrix, except with a heroine. The Wachowskis are very obviously influenced by Joseph Campbell's monomyth, but I feel like they're sticking too closely to the hero's journey rather than creating a story that just so happens to follow the monomyth's guidelines. Visually, Jupiter Ascending might be the most captivating film of the summer. Narratively, however, I just can't look past the obvious trappings of a sci-fi epic that's all too familiar with the hero's journey.

Hopefully The Wachowskis can prove me wrong when Jupiter Ascending comes out on July 18th.


[Trailer] Jupiter Ascending

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Following the tepid response to last year's Cloud Atlas, the minds behind The Matrix are back with next year's sci-fi epic, Jupiter Ascending. Starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum, the film follows Kunis as Jupiter, a lowly janitor with big dreams. When an ex-military hunter, Caine (Tatum), appears and explains to Jupiter that she may be destined to be a queen (or something), she's suddenly thrown into a space epic involving a queen attempting to kill her because of this supposed destiny.

Jupiter Ascending sounds like nothing more than a modernized, sci-fi set Snow White allegory, complete with a huntsman, a jealous queen/witch, and an unassuming young woman destined for greatness. The film looks technically great, like a modern-day Blade Runner, but the hints at plot in the trailer made me groan over how simplistic it was. Of course, I'll withhold judgment until the film is released into theaters on July 25, 2014.