Tom Cruise Keeps The Sci Fi Streak Alive With Yukikaze
This article is more than 2 years old
Tom Cruise is on a definite science fiction kick at the moment. Not only does Oblivion, his live-action retelling of WALL-E, open in the U.S. this Friday, but he’s working on All You Need Is Kill, a sort of sci-fi Groundhog’s Day. Now the Hollywood icon has added yet another piece of speculative fiction to his schedule, as he is attached to an adaptation of Chohei Kambayashi’s Yukikaze for Warner Bros.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Cruise has signed on to star in the adaptation of the novels from a writer who is often compared to both Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick. Not bad company to be in if you’re a science fiction writer.
Yukikaze, which translates to “wind blown snow,” was adapted into a five-part, direct-to-video anime series from 2002 to 2005. Two of the films won Tokyo Animation Awards, in 2003 and again in 2006.
The story revolves around a “planetary defense force” established by the United Nations that is tasked with repelling an alien invasion via a dimensional portal hovering over the South Pole. They set up bases on the aliens’ home world, and the Yukikaze of the title refers to a high-tech reconnaissance plane, the Super Sylph B-503 fighter, piloted by the protagonist.
One unique thing about the jet is that it has a near-sentient artificial intelligence. Am I the only one that thinks this sounds like space Knight Rider? I certainly hope there is man/machine back-and-forth banter. That could really tie the whole movie together.
