Sci-Fi Drama ‘Passengers’ Strands Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence in Space

Amanda Nolan

In the midst of family movies and prestige films, audiences will also have a chance to see high-octane action and romance with “Passengers.” The movie has all the makings of a big blockbuster with the help of its two popular stars. Chris Pratt and his likable persona have seen enormous success with “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Jurassic World,” while Jennifer Lawrence is one of Hollywood’s hottest commodities after several years of choice parts and award nominations.

Lawrence and Pratt portray passengers on the Starship Avalon. With over 5,000 other travelers, the ship is headed toward the Homestead II colony. Because it takes 120 years to get to the destination, the travelers are put into an extended hibernation. Pratt plays Jim Preston, a mechanical engineer whose fix-it skills are increasingly obsolete as people simply buy new things instead of fixing what they have. Jim hopes his handiwork will have a useful place in building the new society. Lawrence plays Aurora Dunn, an ambitious New York journalist. She is on the ship with the other pioneers to cover the story of a lifetime.

Both awaken from their suspended animation, but unfortunately it is only at 30 years into the journey. Without being able to re-enter the state of sleep, the two may have to live out the rest of their days on the ship, with only the robot bartender, Arthur (Michael Sheen) and the ship’s other technological amusements to entertain them. While being stranded with a Jennifer Lawrence or a Chris Pratt wouldn’t be the worst of fates, the drama continues as the Starship Avalon is in danger and secrets are revealed.

The script for “Passengers” has been making the rounds since 2007, with Keanu Reeves, Emily Blunt and Rachel McAdams all attached at some point. With audiences responding to space films like “Gravity” and “Interstellar,” now seems like the perfect time for “Passengers” to arrive.   

“The original script for ‘Passengers’ was as compelling as anyone I’ve ever read,” Sony Pictures Chairman Tom Rothman tells Vanity Fair at CinemaCon. “To me it is both intimate and epic . . . and that required two exceptional actors, particularly given the emotional and action gauntlet that the characters must run. . . This is about two people who take a voyage to space knowing that they will never come back to their families again.” The film is directed by Morten Tyldum (“The Imitation Game”) and written by Jon Spaihts (“Doctor Strange,” “Prometheus”).

“Passengers” flies to theaters on Dec. 21.