FILM · 2015 · USA
Jupiter Ascending
36 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (36)
- #001
The chase scene in Chicago was given the code name "Fifty-Two Part" by the film's crew. It was the longest sequence in the script and contained some of the film's most difficult scenes. To complete it, Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum had to shoot every day for six months.
- #002
The crew built a rig called Panocam, consisting of six cameras mounted on a helicopter and covering roughly 180 degrees. During post-production, the directors were able to combine the overlapping footage to create a camera that could orbit the action independently of the helicopter's actual flight path.
- #003
Channing Tatum had to wear a muzzle to alter the shape of his lower jaw so he could realistically portray his half-dog character. Unfortunately, this prevented him from closing his mouth and made it difficult for him when he had to speak.
- #004
On 6 February 2015, the date of the film's wide release, Jupiter was in opposition, meaning it was at its closest point to Earth and the sun was fully illuminating the planet's face.
- #005
When the planet Ores is reached, Space Station V from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) can be seen among the spaceships.
- #006
The beautiful interior of the Natural History Museum in London, designed by Alfred Waterhouse, was used for the filming of the "intergalactic space palace" scenes; it accommodated a cast and stunt crew of more than 400 and 150 actors and extras.
- #007
VFX supervisor Dan Glass states that European architecture had a significant influence on the film's designs, including Renaissance architecture, modern glass and Gothic art.
- #008
The film was initially scheduled to be released on 18 July 2014, but the studio postponed the release, pushing it back six and a half months to give production more time during the post-production process.
- #009
Natalie Portman was originally cast as Jupiter Jones but was dropped from the role. Before Mila Kunis was finally cast, Rooney Mara was considered to replace her.
- #010
According to the directors, the script was over 600 pages long.
- #011
After Terry Gilliam appears in the film, someone tells Jupiter that she needs to fill out form 27B/6. This is a reference to Brazil (1985), which Gilliam directed.
- #012
Apparently Channing Tatum kept most of his prosthetic ears from this film.
- #013
Channing Tatum wore skates for the gravity-boot scenes. In fact, he was sliding on ramps, platforms and wires for his performances. The wheels were removed from the film.
- #014
The panoramic view of Zalintyre corresponds to the computer-altered city of Bilbao in Spain. Famous structures such as the Guggenheim Museum (designed by Gehry), the La Salve bridge and the Zubizuri bridge (designed by Calatrava) are easily recognizable.
- #015
Filming was completed in 2013, and more than a year was spent on post-production before the film was released in early 2015.
- #016
The bureaucrat scene directed by Terry Gilliam, who plays the Seal and the Minister of the Seal, is a tribute to Brazil (1985).
- #017
Jupiter Jones's family is Russian. Mila Kunis was born in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, and spent the first few years of her life there. Shortly after her family emigrated to the United States, the USSR collapsed and Ukraine became an independent country.
- #018
The chase scene in Chicago takes place at a very specific time of day, described by the directors as the time when the sky is dark blue, between day and night. In reality this period lasts only about 6 minutes, so all of the sequence's background footage had to be shot in 6-minute increments.
- #019
In the second wide shot of Zalintyre, at the end of the bridge you can see the Nationale-Nederlanden building or the "Dancing House" from Prague in the Czech Republic.
- #020
From Jupiter's perspective, the Abrasax family is extremely long-lived. Yet by their standards, even their mother lived only 91 thousand years, while their business operates on a much longer timescale. For example, 65 million years after the great dinosaurs were wiped out, more than 700 years before their generation, Earth was ripe for harvest.
- #021
Mila Kunis describes Jupiter Jones as unhappy with her job and her life, but also lazy and with no desire to do anything about it until Caine Wise finds her.
- #022
It is the Wachowskis' second film after Cloud Atlas (2012) that Natalie Portman dropped out of.
- #023
When Jupiter Jones is captured and taken aboard a spaceship in the middle of a cornfield, the ship leaves a crop circle in the field as it takes off. This is a common shape seen in hoaxes.
- #024
Jupiter Jones asks 105 questions over the course of the film.
- #025
Caine Wise's gun makes a distinctive "barking" sound.
- #026
The enormous refinery facility in Jupiter's dark spot is destroyed, which is likely to have some effect on the region. Around the time the film was released, scientists had noticed a real-life change in Jupiter's dark spot, and some scientists suggested the spot might disappear.
- #027
It is the first 3D film directed by the Wachowskis.
- #028
Tuppence Middleton (Kalique), Bae Doona (Razo) and Kick Gurry (Vladie) went on to appear in another Wachowski project, Sense8 (2015), as Riley Blue, Sun and Puck respectively.
- #029
It is the Wachowskis' second film to end with the main character flying toward the camera. The Matrix (1999) was the first.
- #030
Jupiter Ascending is the Wachowskis' second film to receive an MPAA rating lower than R. The first was Speed Racer (2008), which was rated PG. Jupiter Ascending was rated PG-13.
- #031
Joseph Gordon-Levitt was considered for a role.
- #032
It is the Wachowskis' first film since Bound (1996) to be set entirely in the same year as its premiere (2015).
- #033
Douglas Booth and Vanessa Kirby had previously been seen together as Pip and Estella in Great Expectations (2011).
- #034
Sean Bean and Eddie Redmayne appeared in the horror film Black Death (2010).
- #035
It is Sophie Porley's debut.
- #036
After its theatrical and DVD releases, the film was given a G or PG rating (depending on the location), but when shown on broadcast it was rated 16+.
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