Jon Spaihts-scripted sci-fi brings in director.
Brian Kirk, the Irish helmer who has been the camera for multiple episodes of ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Boardwalk Empire,’ ‘Dexter’ and ‘Luther,’ has closed a deal to direct Keanu Reeves in the long-gestating sci-fi film ‘Passengers.’
Penned by ‘Prometheus’ scribe Jon Spaiht, ‘Passengers’ is set in the future on a spacecraft transporting thousands of people to a distant colony planet. During its centuries-long interstellar voyage there is a malfunction in one of the sleep chambers. As a result, a single passenger (Reeves) awakens from cryogenic sleep 90 years before anyone else. Faced with the prospect of growing old and dying alone, he, in turn, awakens a beautiful woman.
Stephen Hamel, who developed the story with Reeves at their production banner, Company Films, will produce. Ben Browning and Michael Maher of Wayfare Entertainment will co-produce.
‘Passengers’ was first announced back in 2010 with ‘Pursuit of Happyness’ helmer Gabriele Muccino being eyed for the director’s chair.