Dickens explained that where Hollywood typically portrays strong women in action films as "Arnold Schwarzenegger with boobs", Jupiter Ascending presents Kunis's character differently...

The Wachowskis themselves describe the plot of the film as an effort to reverse the classical science-fiction trope of the hero who is "emotionally withholding and strong and stoic". Instead, they tried to create a new form of female space opera hero.

"We were, like, 'Can we bring a different kind of female character like Dorothy or Alice? Characters who negotiate conflict and complex situations with intelligence and empathy?' Yes, Dorothy has a protector, Toto, who's always barking at everyone. And that was sort of the origin of Caine."

The story was partly inspired by Lana's favorite book,the Odyssey. [...] "The whole concept of these almost spiritual journeys and you're changed."

Another inspiration was The Wizard of Oz which Lana contrasts to the Odyssey. "Dorothy is pretty much the same at the end as she is at the beginning. Whereas Odysseus goes through such an epic shift in his identity."