Wally Pfisters Transcendence: New Plot Details, Casting and Johnny Depps Role

Theres no getting around the fact thatDark Knight trilogy mastermind Christopher Nolans success has impacted the industry, in terms of blockbuster marketing; not to mention, how other tentpole franchises have begun toborrow from his bag of tricks. Similarly, NolansInception has kept the floodgates open for more original big-budget science-fiction entertainment that incorporates recurring themes and ideas from its directors collective body of work (see: M. Night Shyamalans After Earth, Guillermo del Toros Pacific Rimand Joseph Kosinskis Oblivion).

Currently, Nolans Oscar-winning director of photography Wally Pfister is getting in on that same game with his directorial debut:Transcendence, an original high-concept sci-fi project scripted by newcomer Jack Paglen and starring Johnny Depp. So far, insiders are comparing the film to titles like Inception and 2001: A Space Odyssey with Pfister simply (and enigmatically) describing it as a present-day science fiction film.

The Wrap has obtained a script summary for Transcendence; however, it may be somewhat outdated, as significant script revisions are reported to still be ongoing. Fortunately, the site managed to catch up with producer Andrew A. Kosove (The Book of Eli, Chernobyl Diaries), who was willing to confirm certain details and even address casting rumors. Needless to say, the rest of this article contains MILD SPOILERS for the film.

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Heres what The Wraphas learned about Transcendence:

• Depp plays a man whose brain is uploaded into a supercomputer (named Will, in the early script summary).
• The film addresses such ideas as singularity, nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.
• Story-wise, Transcendence revolves around a group of scientists attempting to build the first self-aware supercomputer.
• A group of anti-technology terrorists murder Depps character, which inspires his wife (also a scientist) and collaborator to upload his consciousness into their prototype supercomputer. Obviously, the experiment works.
• Depp and his friend/wife struggle to protect him, once members of an anti-technology organization discover what happened and attempts to destroy the Depp-infused supercomputer.

Kosove confirmed that Depp does indeed transfer (transcend get it?) his mind to a supercomputer. However, he also said that the script no longercontains a plot point where Depp creates a backup of himself on every computer in the world and begins a! ccessing ! online indexes (as was included in The Wraps script summary).

Johnny Depp becomes a supercomputer in Transcendence

Casting for the other two central roles in Transcendence (Depps wife and partner) is currently underway. Nonetheless, Kosove told The Wrap that recently-rumored candidate Noomi Rapace (Prometheus) is not in the running for the former role. The same holds true for Oscar-winner Kate Winslet (whos fresh off filming Jason Reitmans Labor Day), who will not be available when principal photography gets going; thats expected to happen sometime in the first half of 2013.

Lastly, the producer admitted that Ewan McGregor (who returns to the big screen in next yearsJack the Giant Slayer) passed after reading an earlier script draft; moreover, Tom Hardy a friend of Pfisters, after working together on Inception and The Dark Knight Rises was considered, but is simply too busy right now. Nonetheless, you can expect similarly-recognizable stars to eventually sign on for the project, given the high-pedigree of its creative personnel and subject matter.

Screen Rant will keep you up-to-date on pre-production forTranscendence as more inform! ation is ! released.

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Source: The Wrap

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