Jim Sturgess (ACROSS THE UNIVERSE) has signed on to play the male lead in the ROMEO AND JULIET-like sci-fi fantasy, UPSIDE DOWN, reports VARIETY. Kirsten Dunset will be the female lead.

Juan Solanas will direct the $50 million production through Onyx Films, Studio 37 and Transfilm. Aton Soumache and Dimitri Rassam are producing with Jim Skotchdopole on as exec producer. Alex McDowell will be the production designer.

Kinology will handle international sales. Warner Bros. already holds the rights in France, while Tele Munchen Group holds German rights.

Mid-February is when production will start, with producers hoping to get the film in theaters by fall 2011.