Despite the success of The Matrix, the Wachowskis haven’t made a film as successful as the Keanu Reeves sci-fi thriller since 1999, the year it was released. Sure, The Matrix movies were a trilogy, but the last two (both released in 2003) did not receive as much critical acclaim as the original.

The Wachowskis (formerly known as the Wachowski Brothers until Larry’s gender transition) went on to make other films such as V for Vendetta, Speed Racer, and Cloud Atlas; however, those films failed to draw large audiences or live up to the success of The Matrix.

Now the Chicago-grown siblings hope to relaunch their career with their next film, Jupiter Ascending, a science fiction space opera that meshes together various genres into one film.

The futuristic story focuses on Jupiter Jones, a Russian janitor who has the DNA to be the next leader of the universe. Caine, a genetically-engineered warrior, is sent by the Queen of the Universe to kill Jupiter but instead reveals her destiny.

Jupiter is played by Mila Kunis (Black Swan, Oz the Great and Powerful). Caine is played by Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe, Magic Mike) who, interestingly enough, kind of looks like a genetically-engineered model anyway.

Other notables in the film include Sean Bean (Game of Thrones), Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables), and Terry Gilliam (Monty Python).

Despite the $200 million budget the Wachowskis have given to Jupiter Ascending, critics, like Screen Rant who calls it one of the riskiest box office bets of the year, still wonder if it will live up the hype.

Mila Kunis will most likely help with that. Her last films have grossed $1.8 billion and, lately, she and finace Ashton Kutcher have been the talk of the town. 33-year old Tatum probably won’t hurt the cause, either, after he caught the eye of millions of females with his sexual thrusting in Magic Mike in 2012.

Despite everything else, Jupiter Rising will likely contain breathtaking effects. Let’s just hope, for the Wachowskis sake, it is as big as they are hoping it to be.

Image via YouTube