On the heels of the news that Johnny Depp has joined the cast of Wally Pfister's directorial debut comes word that Paul Bettany has also signed on for some 'Transcendence.'

Sadly this isn't a movie about David Lynch's transcendental meditation center (or is it..? We wish), but it is the directorial debut of the immensely talented cinematographer and longtime Chris Nolan collaborator Wally Pfister. And it's science fiction. We're sold.

Deadline reports that Paul Bettany has just signed on to star alongside the recently announced Johnny Depp. The film follows a scientist who is assassinated by anti-technology terrorists and has his brain uploaded into a supercomputer of his own creation -- a computer that has the capability to think for itself.

Depp was said to have signed on to the project way back in October, but his involvement became uncertain with news that a new 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film was moving forward, but that film might be delayed a bit as Depp announced his participation in 'Transcendence' and Barry Levinson's 'Black Mass.'

Bettany can be seen (or heard, rather) in this summer's 'Iron Man 3' as the voice of Tony Stark's computer, Jarvis. No other cast members have been announced for 'Transcendence,' though it was reported in December that Pfister and Warner Bros. were eyeing Rooney Mara, Emily Blunt, and Rebecca Hall as options for the female lead.

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