Minority Report. War of the Worlds. Tom Cruise doesn’t tackle science-fiction often, but when he does, it has been in service of some truly mind-blowing material.
His next foray into extraterrestrial storytelling appears to be as epic as you expect. Titled Oblivion, the movie casts Cruise as one of the last survivors of an alien attack on our planet. Part of the self-described “mop-up crew,” Jack Harper (Cruise) is tasked with activating a set number of drones before he can join the rest of his survivors in a different location … until something happens that derails his mission. Find out what in the first official trailer, which arrived online over the weekend:
Post-apocalyptic Earth isn't the most original setting for a sci-fi thriller, so I'm thrilled that Oblivion seemed to pack more than a few twists into its first teaser. The look is bleak, but the set design and effects are cutting edge, and you know Cruise will deliver on the action side of the equation.
Joseph Kosinski, who helmed Tron: Legacy, will be in the director’s chair for Oblivion, which plans to open in theaters and IMAX on April 26, 2013. Can’t wait until then for a Cruise movie? He also has Jack Reacher opening in theaters on Dec. 21. Until then, here’s the Oblivion poster, which features a waterfall by the Empire State Building.
That can’t be good for New York City.
Follow along on Twitter @Sean_OConnell and @Fandango.
