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Universal Picks Up Joe Kosinski's Sci-Fi 'Horizons' with Tom Cruise

by Alex Billington
April 12, 2011
Source: THR

Looks like some bad news for Joseph Kosinski today. While normally it should be a momentous occasion to hear a project get picked up, THR reports that it's Universal, of all places, that ended up winning the fight to distribute Tron Legacy director Joe Kosinski's next epic sci-fi movie. The project was originally known as Oblivion, now known as Horizons, and was being pitched by Kosinski as a comic book, which is where most of the imagery above comes from. Disney then dumped the project a few weeks ago because it's too gritty of a PG-13 action flick for the them. But the best news of all - Tom Cruise is already attached to star!

Wait - when did Tom Cruise get involved with this?! Universal recently killed off At the Mountains of Madness with Cruise because it had an R-rating, so I'm willing to be Universal is simply interested in this because of its PG-13 rating. But I'm willing to bet things are going to get a bit messy once they actually get a closer look at the budget and concept behind Horizons and how much it'll take to pull it off. To be frank, with the way Universal is acting right now, this is the last studio that I would expect to see taking a risk developing a high concept sci-fi like this. The story centers on a soldier assigned to patrol a desolate planet who meets a mysterious traveler - a beautiful woman who crashed in a nearby spacecraft, and together they go on an adventure that forces him to question his world view. Boring synopsis, but it's the best we've got.

Apparently Kosinski is pushing this hard to be his next movie, aiming to start shooting in October with Cruise. Horizons, with a script by William Monahan and Karl Gadjusek, was created by Kosinski who partnered with Radical Pictures for the comic first. Deadline also chimes in on the news, adding that "the deal [with Universal] hinges on Kosinski's ability to bring in the film at around the $100 million mark. Cruise doesn't have a deal at this point, but they are talking." So Cruise isn't attached, but once he gets involved and Kosinski starts talking money, I'm betting Universal is going to get wet feet again, like almost always. Let's hope this doesn't ruin the project, because otherwise, I was pretty damn excited to see Kosinski's sophomore feature. And if he can get Tom Cruise back into more sci-fi, even better! Thoughts?

Filed under Development, Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

Maxinpains

$100 million budget Sci-Fi ? LOL
Anonymous

I'm in. The story sounds amazing and Cruise is still a favorite of mine.
Anonymous

Out of all the sci-fi projects out there this one interest me the least. Kosinski didn't impress me at all with Tron, and the plot, even though we don't know much about it, sounds weak. Just because it's set on a diff. planet doesn't make it good. I love how they have to describe the woman as 'beautiful.' So if she was ugly the adventure wouldn't happen?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1503900114 Tyler Morgan

(Obvious comment about how Tom Cruise thinks this is a biopic of L. Ron Hubbard.)
KLO

I read from another site that the basic premise for the film is that humans live in giant cities above the earth, and this takes place on the surface of earth which is a scorched wasteland. The main character is a soldier asigned to patrol the surface, which is where he meets the mysterious woman. Sounds kinda cool. I think this director certainly has the visual flair to pull it off. And say what you will about Cruise, he's still got what it takes. At least he does when not being bat-shit.
- http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington
  
  Yea that's what I've heard. There's some huge sci-fi landscapes here, but most of it is spent in the deserted wasteland area, right? Either way I agree with you, this project sounds so frickin' badass. That's why I hope it happens, I just don't want Universal to water it down. Kosinski just needs to make the badass epic sci-fi movie that he wants to make!
ate

Jesus. Stop talking out of your ass Alex. Universal may have killed ATMOM but for very viable reasons. They are the studio that puts out all your R-rated comedies and have taken many risks in the past. It's because you, the audience, have not responded to them in a greater manner than you do to all the crap sequels from other studios is what made them rely on another edition of crap like Little Fockers. You want to get on a studio's case? Why not Fox? Or are you telling me you truly believe Aronofsky's excuse? Or Disney? Alice in Wonderland's update was one of the most boring 'blockbusters' ever to be made and Tron Legacy was a whole load of crap, probably also hindered by Disney's need to PG everything so it doesn't contradict their family friendly title. But, that's what you are, shortsighted and reactionary. Did you read the HitFix article back when Drew made a post about ATMOM or because he had done more research and was calmer about everything did you ignore it to prop up your impatient, exaggerated, half-thought rant stuffed with biased assumptions?
- Anonymous
  
  this is an opinion site ate...Billington voices his...in a non insulting way I might add.
  - Capnord1
    
    Jesus Xerxexx, are you married to Billington or what? Alex can't be talking out of his ass anyway because you are too far up it. You never disagree with him and your constant sugar sweet comments about his articles his remarks make it look as if you ar his wife.
    - Anne
      
      ha ha ha ... I was thinking it, but too polite to say it cap.
      - Anonymous
        
        say whatever you want, Anne. We're all adults here.
    - Anonymous
      
      Are you a Homophobe? Sheesh, I've disagreed with Billington multiple times, but for the most part Billington and I share similar taste in film...that's why I'm on this site as much as I am. Also ate insluted him and if you read my reply to him I note: that Billington does not insult people, unless its Cameron Diaz or Paul W.S. Anderson. Deal with it or leave. Call me what you want, but you still come off as a dick. You're still my best friend, though!
- mrtibbs
  
  Settle down kid
- http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington
  
  Me talking out of my ass? That sounds like exactly what you're doing, making a lot of claims that you can't even back-up, whereas my opinions come from closely watching the industry and speaking with a lot of people who work in the industry. I've been on Fox's case for a LONG time, you can read any of the number of articles I've written over the last 5 years that bitch them out for tons of mistakes, then they started getting on the right track just recently. Yes they screwed up big time with Aronofsky, but I'm an Aronofsky supporter, so I'm just happy to see him stick with his guns and do what he wants and yes, Fox will suffer for it, but what can I do? Universal, on the other hand, has been making/releasing flop after flop give or take the Fast/Furious franchise and one movie a year from Illumination Ent. I read Drew's article and also spoke with other people in the industry who confirmed that most of what he said was not true and was fabricated to defend the producer which he is friends with. Therefore I'm not sure how you can claim that's accurate when it's not, yet say I don't know what I'm talking about when I clearly do. Look, the general public seems to be getting a sense of how idiotic Universal is with the Battleship and ATMOM stories out there, and without me having to say anything. It's just those who have some unfounded bias towards me that seem to hate on my opinion on this matter and side with them. The evidence is clearly out there and many would also confirm off the record. I really want them to get better, but right now they're not doing a single thing to improve. Let's hope Comcast can straighten things out.
Shellew

The movie won't be made for $100 million. What people don't realize is that Tom Cruise makes between $25-$30 million a film. That comes out of that budget. Why would a studio take that much risk on Tom Cruise? I wouldn't. He hasn't returned as bankable yet. That and it is actually about a $70 million dollar science fiction movie after Cruise's price tag is deducted. Tom Cruise runs and produces the movies for United Artist under an agreement with MGM. He also signed to star in most United Artist movies also. Yet, MGM is in Backruptcy. This doesn't impress me much with him as a lead actor or a business man. Something is wrong there. I love the ideal behind the movie. Just not with Tom Cruise involved. I enjoyed some of Tom's movies from when he was younger. I loved Born on the 4th of July and Rain Man. Now when I watch one , however, I get really bored by his acting. He seems to be just going through the motions to just finish a film or trying to overact for the camera. He just comes off ridiculous, in my opinion only - Sorry. I would love to see this movie with a different star involved though. Someone that wouldn't take most of the film's budget to hire and someone that would show the excitement and enthusiasm to do the job correctly. I can't blame Universal for being careful on projects concerning Cruise. I would have concerns too.
- Anonymous
  
  I agreee with you. When I see Tom Cruise in a film, I see him and not his role. and he usaually makes fims around him, and I like just the opposite.
  - Hattori Hanzo
    
    I agree. While I like Cruise to me he's like Nic Cage and Jack Nicholson; Isee them and not the role.
http://twitter.com/JohnnyNeat Johnny Neat

Sounds like Enemy Mine minus the whole male alien playing female role change. Anyhow I'm curious about this project and hope it's made well but I fear Universal in any capacity. PG-13 can be made to feel like an R rated movie if done right. Then again why is there a fear of rated R movies, really?