After her studio break-out Selma proved to be one of 2014’s best films, Ava DuVernay has been courted for a number of projects, but has yet to decide on one yet. At the very least, we know that she’s thankfully dodging the Marvel machine, passing on Black Panther, which Creed‘s Ryan Coogler will direct, and today brings news of her most likely next project.
According to THR, she’s circling to direct the Steven Spielberg-produced sci-fi thriller Intelligent Life, which has Lupita Nyong’o in talks to direct. Scripted by Jurassic World duo Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly, the film follows a U.N. worker who heads up a department that will represent humankind upon the arrival of aliens. As DuVernay also considers an offer from Disney to direct A Wrinkle in Time, she could end up doing both, but with this one eying a summer start, expect it to go first. Check out the synopsis below.
The film is set in the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, which not only monitors the universe for signs of life but is prepared to represent humanity if and when aliens arrive on earth. A shy, low-ranking staffer unwittingly makes first contact when he meets a mysterious beautiful woman (Nyong’o) and must risk more than his job when they are threatened by forces of this world and beyond.
What do you think of Nyong’o and Ava DuVernay potentially teaming together?