It may have been flawed in places, but director Alfonso Cuarón's Children Of Men was an excellent sci-fi movie, and boasted some particularly well shot set-pieces, including a jarring high speed shoot-out and a similarly visceral journey through a war torn building as it's ravaged by gunfire, both shot in what appeared to be one single extended take.

Four years on, and Cuarón has another sci-fi movie in the works. Called Gravity, it details the battle for survival of a lone female astronaut after a repair mission in space goes awry. Robert Downey Jr. is one big name already confirmed to appear, while Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively (set to appear in Green Lantern next year) are two names thought to be attached.

Most recently, Natalie Portman has reportedly been offered the lead role, fresh from her turn in Darren Aronofsky's psychological thriller Black Swan, which has already received much praise at the recent Venice and Telluride film festivals.

Budgeted at $80 million and set to appear in 3D, it's refreshing to see the three-dimensional process applied to what could be a mature and character-driven piece of sci-fi, rather than yet another special effects extravaganza.

Dark Horizons