Empire recently had the privilege to visit the set for Rian Johnson’s sci-fi action film Looper, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis.

Gordon-Levitt plays Joe, a quick-witted hitman. Where’s the sci-fi element you ask? His victims are sent back in time from 30 years in the future, bound and hooded. It streamlines the hit, and destroys any evidence. The problem for our “hero”? A person sent back in time without a hood is his future self, played by Willis. Suffice to say, he’ll put up one hell of a fight.

Both Gordon-Levitt and Willis have excellent screen presence — and as we all know, Willis does well in action films. If there was any doubt on Gordon-Levitt holding his own in action, he’s proven himself in Inception.

You can see the first and exclusive picture from the film on Empire. It showcases Bruce Willis doing what he does best: brandishing a firearm.

The sci-fi action film Looper will release sometime in 2012.