What’s up with “Tomorrowland”?

While I usually try to focus on writing here, I will admit to a deep and abiding love of film. I love watching movies at home and in theaters, obscenely large container of popcorn at the ready. I even read movie news and gossip. What’s got me excited today, though, is the upcoming film Tomorrowland.

First of all, Hugh Laurie has been cast as the villain. For anyone who has ever seen Laurie cheerfully playing the misanthropic title character on an episode of House M.D., the thought of Laurie playing the bad guy should make you gleeful. Second of all, Brad Bird has been attached to direct. You probably don’t recognize the name, but Brad Bird is the guy who wrote and directed the exceptional animated films The Incredibles and The Iron Giant. He’s also the man who directed Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocal, arguably the most visually interesting of the Mission: Impossible films. Also attached to star is George Clooney. I’ll admit I’m a little less excited by this casting choice. The last time Clooney made a film that was even remotely interesting looking to me was the 2006 film noir homage film, The Good German. Still, he’s shown himself capable of delivering excellent performances (O Brother, Where Art thou?, for example) and maybe this will prove to be a similar vehicle for him.

So far, details about the project have been pretty closely guarded, but the following plot snippet has made its way out to us courtesy of casting sheets and entertainment site Hitfix:

“A teenage girl, a genius middle-aged man (who was kicked out of Tomorrowland) and a pre-pubescent girl robot attempt to get to and unravel what happened to Tomorrowland, which exists in an alternative dimension, in order to save Earth.” (source Hitfix)

The Hitfix article, by Drew McWeeney, postulates that this description may just be part of a misinformation campaign. Personally, I hope that’s true, not because the description doesn’t pique my curiosity, but because Brad Bird so consistently delivers films that I find engaging and original. I’d rather be blown away by something largely unexpected. Then again, I’d go see a movie based around the plot snippet. I guess I win either way.