John Malkovich is set to star in a science fiction film you’ll probably never see as it’s set for release in the year 2115. Titled 100 Years, the short film is written by Malkovich, directed by Robert Rodriguez and was originally advertised in 2015.
Produced by the French company R?my Martin to promote its drink, Cognac Louis XIII, it has been described as an experimental movie, but little is known about it. Filmed in secrecy, it will be carefully preserved over the coming decades to help it survive whatever could happen between now and then.
As it stands, the sole physical copy of the picture is being housed behind bulletproof glass in a high-tech safe that will be rigged to open automatically on November 18, 2115. The film’s release date raises questions about the future of entertainment and whether our ever faster march towards AI created content will see real actors replaced.
Rodriguez, director of 100 Years, is responsible for some innovative sci-fi films, so his take on what the future may look like will be an interesting watch for those able to get to the cinema, in whatever form it takes, in 2115. While Malkovich is the biggest name attached to the project, there are some other notable performers.
Chilean actor Marko Zaror (John Wick: Chapter 4) also features in the film. And the main female lead is the Taiwanese actress Shuya Chang (Snakehead, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).
The film is so secretive, character names are yet to be releases, with IMDb stating them as just: “Hero,” “Hero Girl,” and “Bad Guy.” It has been confirmed however that musician Pharrell Williams has composed an original song, aptly named 100 Years, for the film.
Though the wait for 100 Years is going to be a long one, and good luck if you’re planning on seeing it, but it is just a short film. Not a full length feature film.
One thousand invitations to the film premiere have already been sent out. They are made of metal and recipients can pass down their tickets to their descendants.
According to Rodriguez in an interview with IndieWire, the makers of Louis XIII gave him “silver tickets for my descendants to be at the premiere in Cognac in 2115”. He added: “How cool is that? I’m very proud of it, even if only my great grandkids and hopefully my clone will be around to watch.”
