by Steph Sharples

Gabriele Muccino is in advanced talks with Morgan Creek to direct sci-fi romance "Passengers" starring Keanu Reeves. Muccino directed The Pursuit of Happyness and Seven Pounds, both of which did solid business at the box office. Although Seven Pounds was not for everyone, I thought it was well-done and featured great performances by both Will Smith and Rosario Dawson.

"Passengers is set in the future on a spacecraft making a centuries-long interstellar voyage to a new planet. Due to a computer glitch, 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." Interesting premise. I'm usually up for any kind of sci-fi flick, especially one set in space and in the future. The beautiful woman in question will reportedly be played by a lesser-known actress. Does this mean no Carrie-Anne Moss?

The script, written by Jon Spaihts, landed on the 2007 Black List of the best unproduced screenplays. Spaihts also wrote the upcoming Alien prequel which will be directed by Ridley Scott. Shooting will begin this summer and the film is being produced by Keanu's Company Films banner. All in all it sounds like a very promising film, one that could potentially bring Keanu Reeves back into the spotlight.

Source: Variety