SFF Gazette is continuing its coverage of director Gabriela Cowperthwaite's (Blackfish, Megan Leavey) sci-fi thriller I.S.S., which was acquired by Bleecker Street for theatricla distribution following its screening at the Tribeca Festival (formerly known as the Tribeca Film Festival) back in June.
The film is now set to hit North American theaters on Jan. 19.
Ariana DeBose is having an "it-girl" moment currently in Hollywood, after starring in Hamilton on Broadway.
After appearing in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, she headline's Disney's Wish as Asha and will co-star in Sony's Kraven the Hunter as Calypson.
In I.S.S., she portrays Dr. Kira Foster, an American astronaut who has conflicted feelings after receiving orders from the U.S. government to take control of the International Space Station by any means necessary after war breaks out down on Earth.
Early reviews for the film spinning out of festival screenings have been predominatly postive, with Deadline stating: "I.S.S. undeniably demonstrates a commitment to building tension to create an engaging story that holds the attention — it’s definitely a journey worth taking for the visual experience and the steady-paced suspense."
Variety was a little less glowing in its review: "Audiences will have seen most of these story beats, and though the performances are uniformly exceptional, the belligerents never feel like wholly original characters. But while the landing isn’t as smooth as might be hoped for after the exemplary first act, neither does “I.S.S.” burn up on reentry — it just makes one feel a little like Kira looking at Earth and wishing she felt more strongly about it."
The Hollywood Reporter zeroed in on DeBose's strong performance in its review: "Considering that her other screen acting has been confined mainly to musicals, it’s nice to see DeBose take on this role in a very different sort of film that provides the opportunity to show off her range. She delivers an excellent dramatic turn that is all the more effective for its restraint."
The film currently has a 92% approval rating from 12 reviewers who caught an early screening of the film at the Tribeca Film Festival this past summer. I.S.S. currently has an aggregate score of 7.3 out of 10.
The official synopsis for the film reads, "Tensions flare in the near future aboard the International Space Station as a worldwide conflict breaks out on Earth. Reeling from this, the astronauts receive orders from the ground: take control of the station by any means necessary. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite, working with Nick Shafir’s Blacklist script, brings together a stellar cast that includes Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, Pilou Asbaek, John Gallagher Jr., Costa Ronin, and Masha Mashkova, in a high-stakes thriller set entirely in the confines of the I.S.S. as astronauts are called to duty in fateful and terrifying ways."
Nick Shafir penned the script.