The genre mysteries of Tomorrowland

So much is top secret in the movie business these days, it’s getting to be ridiculous. How many top genre films do we write about where everything is so under wraps, you’d think it would be the end of the world if anything was released to the public.

On the other hand, we also like the fact that there still is some element of mystery when we go see a movie, and that filmmakers understand how cool it is to watch a flick without it being spoiled in advance.

One project we’ve been reading a lot about that’s top secret is Tomorrowland, which previously went under the title 1952. 1952 is being written by Damon Lindelof (Prometheus, Star Trek Into Darkness) and it’s going to be directed by Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol). George Clooney is also slated to star.

So what exactly is 1952? Well, here’s what we’ve been able to gather so far. Collider managed to score a tiny little synopsis where “the picture is said to center on the journey of a middle-aged man and his contact with alien life.” Sounds like Close Encounters, at least when you thumb nail sketch it. 

And just like Mr. Top Secret himself, JJ Abrams, Tomorrowland also has a mystery box, and it looks fairly worn and old. It has a label on it that says “1952” although the title has indeed been changed to Tomorrowland, and according to GiantFreakinRobot, the latest rumor has it this movie could be about Walt Disney trying to cover up an alien invasion at the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. 

As Disney itself claims, inside the box are aged black and white photos that the company’s blog tells us could be “gathered together for a project from the past. Perhaps as research for a science-fiction-themed film, television, or park attraction, or even a futurism project like Walt’s vision of Epcot.”

The 1952 package also has a box of celluloid, an issue of the Amazing Stories sci-fi pulp magazine, and more fun goodies. This blog also claims that 1952 could be a working title, like Fantasia was originally called The Concert Feature. 

Tomorrowland is due in theaters on December 19, 2014, and we’ll certainly know more about it before then, but right now details are definitely scarce, and may also be misleading in a fun way. If you check out the Disney site for more information, you may learn more about this project, or you may be lead off on a wild tangent that could still be a lot of fun.