All we knew previously about Wally Pfister's sci-fi flick was that it was set to star Depp in the lead, and that it dealt with "a husband who gets sucked into a computer". Now thanks to The Wrap we have lots more to go on. Here is the synopsis obtained by the site, which gives off a definite Tron meets Lawnmower Man vibe to me..
Three scientists -- Max and the husband and wife team, Will and Evelyn -- have been developing a programming code for the world’s first fully self-aware computer. Depp will play one of the lead scientists, Will. The other two roles have not yet been cast. A group of anti-technology terrorists assassinate Will, Evelyn uploads his brain into a prototype supercomputer. Although she at first finds the experiment seems to have gone wrong, before too long Evelyn finds Will responding in computer form. She goes on to connect Will to the Internet so he can help make further scientific breakthroughs. Will asks Evelyn to connect a microphone and a camera up to the computer so he can see and speak to her as well. Will creates a backup of himself to every computer in the world, and furthers his work through accessing online indexes. (Kosove told TheWrap this plot point is no longer in the script.) When the anti-technology organization finds out, they try to steal the supercomputer and destroy it, but Will no longer needs the computer to survive.
We had previously reported that Noomi Rapace, James McAvoy, Tobey Maguire and Christoph Waltz were being looked at for supporting roles, but apparently that's not the case. No word on whether Pfsiter is still after Christian Bale for a role or not either, but the site say the film's producer Andrew Kosove did tell them that Ewan McGregor, Tom Hardy and Kate Winslet WERE courted for roles but had to pass due to scheduling conflicts. So the other two leads are still to be cast, and from the sounds of things Pfister and WB will be going for some big A-list talent to fill em.
Pfister's longtime collaborator Christopher Nolan will exec-produce the film alongside his wife Emma Thomas. Warner Brothers will distribute, and principal photography is set to begin early next year.