Morgan Freeman Joins Johnny Depp in 'Transcendence'

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Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman is heading to Transcendence.

The Oscar winner is in final negotiations to star opposite Johnny Depp in cinematographer Wally Pfister's sci-fi directorial debut, it was announced Thursday.

Plot details have been closely guarded, but the film is described as in the vein of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Inception. Depp stars as a man who creates a computer program that develops an awareness.

Kate Mara, Paul Bettany and Rebecca Hall co-star.

Transcendence was penned by Jack Paglen anddeveloped by Annie Marter and Straight Up Films, whose principals include Marisa Polvino, Kate Cohen and Regency Boies. Polvino, Marter and Cohen will produce, with David Valdes (The Book of Eli), Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove co-producing.

Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Aaron Ryder are ! executive producers.

Principal photography will begin in May in Los Angeles. Alcon Entertainment is financing and producing and will release it through its Warner Bros. deal on April 25, 2014.

Freeman most recently starred in Olympus Has Fallen and last year's The Dark Knight Risesand next appears opposite Tom Cruise in Oblivion and Now You See Me.

Freeman is repped by CAA.

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