We’ve known for a while now that regular Chris Nolan cinematographer Wally Pfister has been itching to step from behind the camera and, er, step slightly to the right and back behind it to direct movies. He’s got mysterious sci-fi pic Transcendence on the stove now for Alcon and Warner Bros., and Johnny Depp has just begun negotiations to star.

Depp is apparently waiting to see a new draft of the script by writer Jack Paglen before he truly, finally commits, but if he likes what is on the page, he’ll star as a man who gets sucked into a malevolent, self-aware computer.

Little else is known about the plot, but the Hollywood Reporter’s sources describe it as being in the vein of 2001 and – shock! – Inception.

Pfister is currently rounding up a cast and has his eye on the likes of Noomi Rapace, Tobey Maguire and James McAvoy for other roles, with Christoph Waltz mulling a supporting part offer.

With Nolan and Emma Thomas on board to produce with Marisa Polvino, Kate Cohen and David Valdes, Pfister is scheduled to start shooting early next year. Sounds rather promising, doesn't it?