Focus Features May Pick Up Keanu Reeves' 'Passengers'

There may be a light at the end of the tunnel for Keanu Reeves' long-delayed, troubled sci-fi romance, Passengers. Reeves and writer Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) have been developing the project for years, finally moving forward on it last year with Brian Kirk directing and Reese Witherspoon as the other lead. She dropped out, Rachel McAdams came aboard, only for her and distributor The Weinstein Company to back out mere weeks before filming.

Once again in limbo, it looked like that may be the final word on it, but now Focus Features is in talks to pick up the North American distribution rights. Weinstein left specifically due to the lack of a female lead, and the search for a major actress has to be considered a priority. Focus may not take the plunge without a big name to star opposite Reeves, who is no longer the box office draw he once was.

Spaihts' story appeared on the Black List and centers on a mechanic woken up early from hypersleep while making the centuries-long voyage to another planet. Faced with the prospect of living the rest of his life alone, he wakes up a beautiful passenger to be his companion.   [TheWrap]

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Rachel McAdams and The Weinstein Company Exit 'Passengers' with Keanu Reeves

Well, this isn't looking good at all for the Keanu Reeves-led sci-fi film, Passengers. Despite a Black List script by Jon Spaihts (Prometheus), it had some trouble getting off the ground and securing a lead actress. Reese Witherspoon was attached at one time but dropped out, but when the project was resuscitated last year it had gained Rachel McAdams, a director in Brian Kirk, and a distributor in The Weinstein Company. Well, one of those three things is still around.

THR reports that Weinstein is no longer involved with the film, and Rachel McAdams has also dropped out. This will push back the production by "at least several weeks" and kills the planned April 3rd 2015 release date. The female lead is extremely important because the sci-fi romance centers on only two characters. Reeves plays a mechanic in extended hibernation while on a centuries-long journey to a distant planet. When the machine fails and wakes him up early, he wakes up a beautiful passenger rather than dying alone.

McAdams may have been the hook for getting this movie made in the first place as she's a proven draw in this genre. Without her it could be tough to find another distributor.

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