The Hollywood Reporter has stated that Rachel McAdams is officially out as the female lead in Keanu Reeves’ science fiction love story Passengers. McAdams replaced Reese Witherspoon who was originally cast in the film as the character Aurora. This is now the second road block for Passengers that was originally slated for an April 3, 2015 release date.
During the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, the Weinstein Company acquired the domestic film rights for the film in a colossal deal. However, now the Weinstein brothers-led company has withdrawn from the project and with them goes their financial support. CAA, who is in charge of domestic rights, now has to scurry to find another production team.
The film was supposed to begin production in Germany early next month. However, without a female lead and Weinstein’s financial backing, that start date has been pushed back indefinitely. The delay could potentially hurt the final box office numbers of Passengers because the movie was hoping to parlay the financial success of Gravity. Keanu Reeves could also use a hit, his Japanese samurai film 47 Ronin, which cost a reported $175 million to make, was a monster box office disappointment and critical bomb.
The love story in space centers around a flight that is supposed to take 120 years to reach its destination. All 5,000 passengers onboard the space craft sleep during journey. There is a malfunction and Reeves’ character wakes up 90 years before he is supposed to. He quickly grows bored and lonely, so he decides to wake up Aurora. The pair then have the task of having to save the rest of the passengers. Of course, they fall in love in the process.
McAdams only film that is currently in production is the animated feature The Little Prince. No reason has been given for her departure from Passengers.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
