Call it the Jurassic World halo effect. Sony has had science-fiction romantic drama Passengers sitting on the launch pad for a while now, debating whether to film it or ditch it over budget issues. But thanks to the huge smash success of Chris Pratt’s dino-outing, the green light is flashing on the film, which will co-star another in-demand actor in Jennifer Lawrence{
The Imitation Game’s Morten Tyldum is still attached to direct the story of a spaceship transporting thousands of human colonists to a distant planet. The script, written by Jon Spaihts, chronicles what happens when a malfunction causes one of them (Pratt) to be rudely awakened 90 years before anyone else. Unable to fix the situation and seemingly doomed to spend his time dying alone, he decides to take the unusual and controversial step of waking up a fellow passenger (Lawrence).
Sony’s new boss Tom Rothman had been trying to figure out whether the company could handle the pricey budget (around $120 million with tax breaks) and compensation for the stars. But thanks to Pratt’s big new success, he’s not only getting paid, but he’s receiving a slightly boosted fee, though one still dwarfed by his Oscar-winning co-star’s salary.
It’s not the first time the film has had to endure the rigours of the studio system – it has moved from The Weinstein Company (where it was budgeted at $35 million with Keanu Reeves and Reese Witherspoon orbiting the leads) and Warner Bros., which had Rachel McAdams circling with a $65 million price tag. Now, however, Tyldum looks set to start the cameras rolling in September on what Sony is hoping might turn out as a blend of Gravity and a romantic drama.