Italian filmmaker Jordan River is preparing his next feature, AETERNUM, a science-fiction drama that will combine artificial intelligence, spirituality and advanced filmmaking technology. Announced during the Industry programme of the 79th Locarno Film Festival, the Delta Star Pictures production is currently in development and pre-production, with principal photography planned for 2027 and an international cast and crew being assembled.
An Italian filmmaker with a distinctly international outlook, Jordan River comes to AETERNUM following Joachim and the Apocalypse (2024), which was in contention across several categories for consideration at the 2025 Academy Awards®. The screenplay for AETERNUM has also been selected in Oxford and Cannes and recently won the Best Screenplay Award at the Berlin International Screenwriting Festival.
Set in the near future, AETERNUM explores a society in which an advanced artificial intelligence system attempts to control and modulate human emotions, redefining the boundaries of free will and individual sensitivity.
At the heart of the story is an unexpected element: an ancient manuscript containing mysteries that have remained hidden for centuries. Its origins evoke the metaphysical dimension of St. Augustine’s The City of God, as well as the tradition of Shambhala, the legendary “city of light” of Eastern cosmologies and a symbol of knowledge and universal harmony. Its discovery becomes the key to a journey that raises universal questions.
A compelling narrative structure and an international cast
The film is being developed around the Days of Creation, told in reverse, gradually revealing a hidden design that intertwines cosmology, spirituality and human destiny.
“With AETERNUM, we will use the most advanced technologies to return to the oldest questions: what remains human when even emotions can be programmed?”
— Jordan River, director
The cast, which is currently being finalised, reflects the strongly international nature of the project and will include both Italian and international performers.
Italian actors expected to join the production include Sebastiano Somma (The Fabric Merchant, Nel tepore del ballo, Notte prima degli esami 3.0) and Denise Tantucci (Leopardi&Co., Braccialetti rossi, Ben-Hur).
A prominent role will be entrusted to Japanese-born actor Hal Yamanouchi (The Wolverine, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Push).
Negotiations are also underway with British actor Bruce Payne (Passenger 57, Dungeons & Dragons, Highlander: Endgame), known for the intensity of his performances. Casting will continue through the autumn, with further international names expected to be announced.
The soundtrack is expected to involve acclaimed composer Michele Josia, a recipient of the prestigious Emmy® Award. Josia will once again collaborate with Jordan River following their work on Joachim and the Apocalypse. Its score advanced beyond the first stage of the 2025 Oscars® Original Score competition, among 135 selected works, and was the only one representing Italy.
Leading professionals from the Italian and international film industries are also being involved in the technical team. Discussions are currently underway with Academy Award® winner Mark Ulano, who won Best Sound for Titanic.
Spectacular locations and new technologies
In recent days, the director and production team have carried out their first location scouts in Italy, looking for settings capable of reflecting the thematic depth of the film.
Filming is expected to take place across several Italian regions and territories, including Abruzzo, Lazio, Calabria and Trentino, as well as other areas still under consideration.
The film will combine live action with advanced Virtual Production techniques and will be shot in 17K IMAX format.
It will also integrate the ThetaWave Cinematic Modulation System™, a proprietary neuroacoustic modulation technology applied to sound design. The technology was first used in cinema by River himself on his previous film, Joachim and the Apocalypse, which was shot in 12K.
Cinema that asks questions
AETERNUM marks a new step in Jordan River’s creative exploration: a film combining narrative tension, eschatological reflection and visual imagination to examine the future through some of humanity’s oldest questions, while restoring to the big screen its power to question, reveal and transform.
