Sydney Chandler, soon to lead FX’s highly anticipated Alien: Earth, and Takehiro Hira, who recently captivated audiences in Shōgun, are set to headline Amina, a new sci-fi road trip movie. This project comes from Japanese-American documentarian Brian Tetsuro Ivie in his narrative directorial debut, promising a poignant and visually distinctive journey.
The premise for Amina sounds compellingly futuristic and deeply human. The film follows “an impulsive young woman (Chandler) and a reclusive older man (Hira) [who] embark on a poignant cross-country road trip.” Their mission? “To preserve the man’s failing consciousness via an experimental memory-upload procedure at a cutting-edge facility.” This sounds like a blend of introspective drama and high-concept science fiction, perfectly suited for the talents involved.
Director Brian Tetsuro Ivie shared his enthusiasm for the project: “I’ve always loved road movies, and I’m very thankful to have two brilliant actors on the journey with me. I really think people will be surprised by where the story goes.”
Adding another layer of intrigue, Amina is being produced by Kebrado, Brian Tetsuro Ivie’s celluloid-only media company. This means the film will be shot exclusively on 70mm, 35mm, or 16mm film stock. For celluloid enthusiasts, this is a significant selling point, ensuring a rich, traditional cinematic feel in a genre often dominated by digital production.
The film is co-written by Ivie and Brev Moss. The producing team is extensive, including Ivie, Harrison Allen, Gregory Daniel King for Kebrado; Kimberly Atwood and Atty Cleworth for Fieldhouse Pictures; Alexander Lycette and Chloe Rahal for Gilbara; and Jason Pamer and Brev Moss. Producer Kimberly Atwood expressed strong confidence in the project, noting that Anima “is a dream realized on so many levels. The team—both in front of and behind the camera—represents some of the most fearless, talented, and innovative voices working today. It’s the kind of film audiences around the world are yearning for: commercially compelling, emotionally authentic, and unwavering in its artistic vision.”
Both Sydney Chandler and Takehiro Hira are coming off of significant roles. Chandler will next be seen leading FX’s Alien: Earth in August, following her recent appearance in Apple TV+’s Sugar opposite Colin Farrell. She’s also known for her roles in Danny Boyle’s Pistol and Don’t Worry Darling.
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Hira, who garnered critical acclaim for his performance in FX/Hulu’s hit series Shōgun (earning him an Emmy and Critic’s Choice Award nomination), was also recently seen in Guy Maddin’s Rumours with Cate Blanchett and Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World. His upcoming schedule also includes Lionsgate’s Karoshi, Searchlight’s Rental Family, and he’ll reprise his role in Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
With production already underway, Amina is shaping up to be a compelling addition to the sci-fi landscape, blending a thought-provoking premise with a distinctive visual approach and a talented cast.
