A Black Swan trade-off might be in store for the Wachowskis‘ Jupiter Ascending. (That is, if we don’t count Cloud Atlas — co-directed by Tom Tykwer — as a truly “solo” project. I, personally, do not.) Although the year’s start brought news that Natalie Portman was eyeing it as one of her few post-newborn films, Deadline reports that Channing Tatum and her Swan co-star, Mila Kunis, are now being courted to lead the fall-bound production.

Here’s the thing: We all of us like Kunis a fair deal, but some — maybe I should make that “many” — will certainly cringe at the mention of Tatum. Fear not, I say; 2012′s brought two films (Haywire and 21 Jump Street) that allowed him to come out of his shell more and more, and this writer suspects Magic Mike will silence the naysayers wholesale. It’ll work. (Just you wait and see.) Would I have taken Portman over either of them? Beggars can’t be choosers.

Oh, and don’t even ask what Jupiter Ascending is about. We still haven’t got the slightest clue, and it should serve as some kind of sign when our most conclusive description would be “[the Wachowskis'] first major science fiction action franchise play since The Matrix.” I don’t want to know any more, either; just don’t let this be The Matrix Revolutions or Speed Racer, please.

What do you think of this duo taking the lead in Jupiter? Are you curious about what the picture could yield?