Rising stars Oscar Isaac (Drive) and Domhnall Gleeson (Anna Karenina) are set to lead Ex Machina, the directorial debut from screenwriter Alex Garland (28 Days Later).  As we reported last week, the story centers on a billionaire programmer who invites a young employee to spend a week at his remote estate, participating in a test involving an artificially intelligent female robot that he invented.  At this point, I assume the theme from Weird Science kicks in.  According to The Wrap, Isaac would play the billionaire and Gleeson would play the employee.

Hit the jump for more.  Filming is set to begin this summer or fall.

The Wrap also reports that Felicity Jones (Like Crazy) and Alicia Vikander (Anna Karenina) are among the up-and-coming actresses who might play the female robot.  It looks like the $15 million sci-fi indie is making a smart move at casting since these actors currently have a manageable price tag, which could be much higher in the near future.

Isaac is leading the Coen Brothers' upcoming film Inside Llewyn Davis.  Gleeson is co-starring with Rachel McAdams in Richard Curtis' time-traveling sci-fi dramedy About Time.  Jones has a role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and she also has the female lead in the drama True Story opposite James Franco and Jonah Hill.  Vikander has the love interest role in the upcoming fantasy film, Seventh Son.  All of these actors are poised to break out big, and if they do, then Ex Machina will be easier to sell on one of their names.