Netflix has landed another impressive series for their growing library of exclusive content, which began with the David Fincher-produced “House of Cards” and will continue in April with the return of “Arrested Development“. With drama and comedy taken care of, this time they are turning to sci-fi with Andy and Lana Wachowski (The Matrix, Cloud Atlas) and J. Michael Straczynski (“Babylon 5”, Thor) on “Sense8“, a 10 episode miniseries expected to premiere in 2014.
The show is described as centering on a group of people around the world who are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world’s order.
The series will be in collaboration with Georgeville Television whose producer, Marc Rosen, previously described the project as “an idea so big in size and scale that it doesn’t make sense to try it as a pilot. The only way to let the filmmakers realize their vision on something like this is to do multiple episodes.”
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos was quoted in a press release saying, “Andy and Lana Wachowski and Joe Straczynski are among the most imaginative writers and gifted visual storytellers of our time. Their incredible creations are favorites of Netflix members globally and we can’t wait to bring Sense8 to life.”
The Wachowski siblings were also quoted, talking about the genesis of the project saying, “Several years ago, we had a late night conversation about the ways technology simultaneously unites and divides us, and out of that paradox ‘Sense8’ was born.”
There is no word yet on whether the Wachowskis and Stracyznski will be writing the entire series themselves and/or how many episodes the Wachowskis will direct, though it was previously thought they would direct at least a couple, similar to how Fincher directed the first two episodes of “House of Cards”.
The Wachowskis are, however, starting production next month on their new sci-fi adventure Jupiter Ascending for Warner Brothers, starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis. The story centers on a recent Russian immigrant (Kunis) who is busily scrubbing toilets for a living. Unbeknownst to her, she actually possesses the same perfect genetic makeup as the Queen of the Universe and is therefore a threat to her otherwise immortal rule.
Jupiter Ascending is expected to hit theaters July 25, 2014.
