How to sell a 3D space thriller called GRAVITY better: put Scarlett Johansson in it

How to sell a 3D space thriller called GRAVITY better: put Scarlett Johansson in it

Jul 24

One of the few names that will get me into a cinema no matter what is Alfonso Cuarón’s. The fact that his next picture is going to be set in one of my absolute favourite genre milieus — space — is even better. Gravity sounds like a potential classic of the genre, rivalling the likes of the recent Sunshine or Moon, and even the fact that it’s going to be in 3D can’t dampen my enthusiasm for it.

Neither, surprisingly, is the news that Scarlett Johansson will take the leading role, opposite Robert Downey, Jr. Johansson’s thespian abilities haven’t exactly been challenged of late, but in Cuarón’s capable hands, I’m sure she’s capable of doing great things.

Even better is the marketing aspect of the casting decision. Thousands of people who wouldn’t have taken a gamble on a sci-fi thriller might be swayed to drop some cash on the flick if it features the eyeball-friendly actress in 3D for the first time, and Cuarón deserves every penny of recognition he gets.

Gravity starts shooting later this year, with a a release date expected some time in 2012. Johansson will take the role previously set aside for Angelina Jolie, as a woman who tries to make her way back to Earth after her space station explodes (or something).