Ice Cube is set to star in a sci-fi thriller from producers Timur Bekmambetov and Patrick Aiello using screen capture technology developed by Bekmambetov himself. As reported by Deadline, the as yet untitled project has been fast-tracked by Universal to begin production next month. [caption id="attachment_615274" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Image via Paramount[/caption] Earlier this year, Bekmambetov landed a five-picture deal at Universal thanks to his Screenlife technique, which is essentially a tool used to coordinate every aspect of a production, from the actors to the crew, entirely via screen capturing. These kinds of films …

With the pandemic poised to limit the scope of future productions, Universal has signed a deal with Timur Bekambetov to make five films using the same Screenlife technology that powered Unfriended to a $65 million worldwide gross. Screenlife is an effective form of storytelling that uses smartphones and computer screens to advance the narrative. The format is, obviously, very conducive to a pandemic, because you don't need a huge crew to make these movies, and the actors (who would normally be the least-protected people on set since they're unmasked in front of the camera) are often isolated. …