I’m a sucker for movies about space, especially when they’re grounded in reality – meaning close to realism in their narrative. EUROPA REPORT promises to be just that, and has already earned the title of “independent sci-fi” from various outlets. It’s directed by Sebastián Cordero and stars Sharlto Copley, Michael Nyqvist, Christian Camargo, Embeth Davidtz, Dan Fogler, Anamaria Marinca, Isiah Whitlock, JR., Karolina Wydra and Daniel Wu. Ever since I saw 2010 (the sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001) in theaters, I’ve always been fascinated with Jupiter as a planet and the mysteries that surround it. It’s interesting that as much as we know about the planets in out solar system, there’s still so much we don’t know. Much of the film is being kept secret, but you can read a studio-issued plot description below. I have a feeling this will be one of those films that appeals to very select audiences, but I’m on board with what I’ve seen so far. If you haven’t already seen the cryptic teaser trailer that hit last November, you can check it out below, and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
A unique blend of documentary, alternative history and science fiction thriller, EUROPA REPORT follows a contemporary mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa to investigate the possible existence of alien life within our solar system. When unmanned probes suggest that a hidden ocean could exist underneath Europa’s icy surface and may contain single-celled life, Europa Ventures, a privately funded space exploration company, sends six of the best astronauts from around the world to confirm the data and explore the revolutionary discoveries that may lie in the Europan ocean.
After a near-catastrophic technical failure that leads to loss of communication with Earth and the tragic death of a crewmember, the surviving astronauts must overcome the psychological and physical toll of deep space travel, and survive a discovery on Europa more profound than they had ever imagined.