Jackson co-stars in sci-fi epic to film here in 2017

Samuel L. Jackson “Inversion” co-star

It’s never too early to announce a-major film production planning to shoot in Chicago in 2017, especially when the film is a $130 million sci-fi adventure.

The film is “Inversion,” the first feature from Facing East, the new Hong Kong/Beijing-based production venture. Production will start in February, 2017 at Babelsberg Studios in Berlin before moving to Shanghai and Chicago locations.

Starring so far are Travis Fimmel (”Vikings”), Samuel L. Jackson (“The Hateful Eight”) and Chinese actress Liu Yifei (“Once Upon a Time in America”).

“Inversion” follows a street-wise American con man (Fimmel), and a young Chinese physicist (Liu) as they race against the clock to save the earth from a terrifying loss of gravity. American street guy John Bailey (Jackson), believing the two are the cause of thinversions of gravity, chases them across two continents trying to stop further destruction.

The screenplay was co-written by Paul Haggis (“Casino Royale”), David Arata (“Children of Men”) and Bragi Schut (“Season of the Witch”) and will be directed by Peter Segal (“Shameless” TV series).

Colin Costello’s credits include Emmy-nominated “Moochie Kalala Detective’s Club” and the 2017 family film, “Traveling Without Moving.” He can be reached at colin@colincostello.com.