A few months ago, Jennifer Lawrence neared a $20 million deal to star in Passengers. The film is a space drama, which is the worst news about this project. There have been several similar films in past years, and Matt Damon’s The Martian looks pretty epic. Do we need another space drama?
Sony was hesitant about that aspect and also about JLaw’s salary, but after the Sony hack revealed her sketchy American Hustle salary, the studio will probably pay up. JLaw would have a smaller role than her male co-star, Chris Pratt (who would make $12 million). Now that Jurassic World hit a home run, Sony has greenlighted the project. Deadline tried to sound cautious about the story, but Hollywood Reporter confirms the project will happen:
Pratt’s fee has jumped from $10 million to $12 million while Lawrence is getting an exceptional $20 million against 30 percent of the profit after the movie breaks even, say sources.
Hollywood’s two hottest stars are teaming for a new movie set in outer space — but only after quite a bit of behind-the-scenes drama could have taken it out of Sony’s orbit.
Sony Pictures’ new motion picture chairman Tom Rothman has greenlighted Passengers, a big-budget romantic sci-fi drama starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt with Oscar nominee Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game) set to direct. And thanks to a deal that tied his remuneration to the success of Jurassic World, which broke box-office records with a $524.1 million global opening over the June 12 weekend, Pratt’s fee has jumped from $10 million to $12 million.
Lawrence, an Oscar winner and considered a top star, is getting an exceptional $20 million against 30 percent of the profit after the movie breaks even, say sources. Sony declined to comment.
Whatever the famously fiscally prudent Rothman’s misgivings might have been about paying such big bucks to talent or risking $150 million on an original script that has floated around Hollywood for years, he now finds himself in possession of a two-hander star vehicle with the most in-demand male and female actors in the business.
[From Hollywood Reporter]
It’s funny how Hollywood balks at the idea of “an original script.” They’d rather have a proven franchise on their hands, obviously. This film could sink or swim. Even with plenty of star power and talent, sometimes a project doesn’t work for audiences. Remember how everyone thought Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie would be electric together in The Tourist? I hope this project isn’t a giant disaster for JLaw and Pratt. If it is, he’d probably be forgiven before she would. That’s how showbiz works.
P.S. Pratt did a Nerdist podcast and said he’s glad to be a late acting bloomer: “It’s a good thing I wasn’t famous when I was young because I was doing things that would’ve ruined people’s perception of me.”
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & WENN
Zero confidence in Morten Tyldum as director after the lacklustre, formulaic Imitation Game which features every single biopic cliche in the book and then some.
But JLaw and Pratt are two hugely likable stars, the premise of the story sounds interesting and I’ve heard good things about the script. The press tour will likely whip up lotsa attention and endearing soundbites, and the fans would lap it up.
But yes, am getting a bit sick of space dramas, though this is at least not a franchise.
I’m already over the press tour and they haven’t even filmed anything.
Ha! We all know how it’s going to go down – endearing, aww-shucks gimmickry that will have the Internet cooing. JLaw’s ditsy persona has gotten old to me, though she is a good actress. I’m staying away from Pratt’s Jurassic World press tour cos I want to be able to lust after him without getting sick of his face.
Me too. It’s going to be exhausting.
It would have to do very well critically. Nothing against Pratt, just pretty sure Guardians and JW would have made the same amount of money with another actor playing his roles. The days of the name securing ticket sales are kind of gone.
Yes I think Pratt is yet to be a proven box office draw outside of franchises. The marketing game has changed as many big movies today are sold on the premise of franchises, tied multiverses and whatnot, which has eclipsed the importance of individual actors/actresses’ star power.
It would be interesting to see how JLaw and Pratt fare with this movie since it is not a franchise. JLaw has had the Serena stinker and Pratt is untested. With Tyldum helming the film, I am skeptical about it garnering critical acclaim but the supposed strength of the script and other factors could go some way to compensate.
Excellent news. Its good to see the top star get the higher salary even if she is ‘only’ a woman. Press tour will be epic. Internet could break
She was the THG and she’s highest paid did you not see that?
But the press will be great watching them have a ‘we’re just like you’ off on jimmy fallon will be great.
and my comment was about this. JLaw is the top star and her salary is right. What is the problem?
@Grace Don’t bother trying to reason with Mark, he clearly didn’t read your comment and even if he did, it still wouldn’t make much sense. His responses rarely do.
I am surprised Pratt is getting that salary. His big successes are Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic Park – franchise movies. Is it the franchise or is it him that audiences are going to see? I think of him more as a funny guy, not a space drama guy. This movie doesn’t seem to be in his proven wheelhouse, yet they are paying him $12 million? That is surprising to me.
I’m thinking Sam Worthington, who also fronted 2 big franchises, but could not deliver on his own.
Don’t forget about the Lego movie, whether or not the films successes are because of him on any level is debatable, but he’s had a string of major box office successes in recent memory so I can see why they would pay him that much. I like him but don’t see him as a serious actor but Hollywood has decided that he’s a thing. *shrugs* It could be someone way more insufferable.
I think he was also in Moneyball and Zero Dark Thirty – not big roles, but adds a little more seriousness to his resume.
It amazes me that Sam Worthington has been in huge movies, but I wouldn’t know him if I tripped over him. He has to be the most boring and generic “star” ever.
I bet he is just one of the “easiest” people to work with. Probably very professional and non diva, add the fact that he’s very disarming and you get why he’s on demand and getting the big bucks.
I think it’s the dino’s and Speilberg and part-Pratt that made Jurassic Park so big. Chris’s acting it terrible.
Chris has charisma though, but he is part of the packing not just the package.
Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper couldn’t bring an audience to Selina, of which I havnlt seen. Even Harrison Ford has had his string of flops even at the height of his popularity, just after Star Wars and before Raiders all of his films non-franchise films flopped. It takes more than one actor to make a successful film.
I think it is interesting that they announce it has been greenlit right after Chris Pratt’s film broke records. Jennifer’s last film Serena didn’t do well at all. There is still a question of how well she is going to be able to headline a film. Outside of the franchise; and support of other actors.
Same with Pratt. He mad only Marvel and JW (franchise)
Very true.. I think the test will be if he decides to do something on a more serious level. .But he seems to move more to comedic roles. And I think that suites him to be honest.
Not only that but it is a space romance too! J.Law’s and Pratt’s box office future without their franchises is already shaky, a romantic space movie just does not help. Morten Tyldum is a very monotone director so that won’t probably help either.
How is J-Law’s future post-THG career ‘shaky’? She is a three-times Oscar nominee at 24, with multiple different film projects lined up already. The worst case scenario with ‘Passengers’ is that it flops, people question exactly how big her box office clout is, and she gets paid less for future projects – but directors are going to keep on hiring her, because she’s a famous name who also happens to be a very good actor, who’ll inevitably make a positive impact on the box office of any decent film she’s in.
Same goes for Pratt, although he doesn’t strike me as having J-Law’s range – one highly-paid flop won’t change much, people keep throwing money at Depp after multiple bombs!
the only movie outside of franchises and other big stars for her was house at the end of the street, a cheap horror movie that came out 2 years after being shot. it didnt completely fail, it grossed 40mil out of a 8+mil budget. it’s hard to compare cause tipically horror movies for kids (pg13) do just about as much so who knows with a movie with such a big budget
It’s an interesting script, not as hard sci fi as Gravity or The Martian. I can see this doing very well commercially world wide.
20 million +30%? That’s huge. I’m sure the studio will try to push the “profitable” line far to avoid paying, but that is an amazing deal.
It’s good for the director, Chris and Jennifer but it’s a stupid decision by Sony no wonder Amy Pascal got fired. A 150 million dollar love story in space? It’s not like it’s space Titanic it’s two people on a spaceship, it’s just expensive. It’s ridiculous
‘If it is, he’d probably be forgiven before she would. That’s how showbiz works’
In this case for her it’s because she’s getting paid 20 mill plus gross points, if she’s gonna put herself out as a movie star she’ll have to get the brunt if a movie bombs just like Will Smith, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp do. Also there are dozens of actresses who have had a string of turkeys and are forgiven straight away E.g. Cameron, Reese and Julie.
Yes, excellent news…and why should we be wondering whether this is good news?…weren’t we just talking about this very film, with the big payday for Jennifer Lawrence and saying “girl, get that money”?. The woman is a hairsbreadth away from earning what we were all saying she should earn…let’s cheer it on, I say.
As for the storyline, we already knew that it is a space romance/drama. The script is terrific and we have two of the biggest actors working on Hollywood today…and yes, original story is risky but again, the positives outweigh the negatives. The press tour will be epic as hell.
20 million for talking infront of a camera? I know that is how tha market works, but good God, life isn’t fair.
Why is her bodyguard holding her dog? Surely if there was a threat he couldn’t protect her?
I remember a pic of Bradley (I think) and her leaving somewhere in NY and he was carrying the dog too. Maybe she thinks it’s cute.
When Di Caprio , RDJ, Depp have $20M of salary there aren’t title who asked that it is a good idea. This happens only when it’s a woman
JLaw is really the new mega star. $20M against 30% of te profit + $15M for Joy at just 24. Incredible.
There are so many actresses her age more talented than her, and more likable ( to me). I don’t get how she became so popular.
She was lucky. Don’t get me wrong, she has an amazing team behind her and she is talented, has a great on-screen presence etc. but being cast in a blockbuster like THG is a major luck. Even K. Stewart keeps getting roles over many young actresses because of her Twilight base.
@maybeiamcrazy
K Stewart has never reached this level of success. JLaw is in her own league
@Marnie: Agreed. Stewart has not reached this level.
Lawrence is very much in her own league.
Well, that’s why I said she has talent and a great on-screen presence, things K.Stew do not have. I said K.Stew because she is the biggest example of a franchise boosting a completely untalented actor’s career, let alone J.Law.
This. All day. Every day. The only role I liked her in is Katniss. Other than that, it’s a whole lot of meh.
That Joy movie still irritates me. The character was supposed to be in her late 30s. Why is a 24 year old woman being cast? All this talk of the lack of good roles for women over 30, it just seems wrong.
Because it’s David O Russell. She was woefully too young for his last two movies as well.
@Anname: Actually, much of JOY is about her rise to success…so it is age appropriate.
Lawrence isn’t playing a character in her late 30s in Joy: the pre-publicity for the film has made it clear that the film is ‘inspired’ by what the original Joy Mangano got up to in her late 20s. And, incidentally, no one ever complains when leading male actors play characters 10-20 years younger/older than their real-life counterparts – like DiCaprio in Wolf of Wall Street.
DOR likes casting her as a women in her late 30s-40s because he’s gross and that’s his MO.
SLP, AH and Joy are all movies that should have had older leads. At least in SLP they actually aged her down (Tiffany was younger in the movie) but for the other two she’s playing these older mom figures. I, like many other fans of JLaw, are really over her doing DOR movies and I hope Joy is it for her. I have zero desire to see her as another mom character with the same actors for the third time.
Has anyone seen that article on leading men vs leading ladies ages? It clearly shows how leading men age while their leading ladies get younger or stay the same age. The only movies where Jen plays opposite someone remotely her age are…you guessed it THG. There’s something really creepy about it and it reminded me of that Maggie G story about how she was too old to play opposite someone 55.
She is supposed to be young in AH too. The character( i don’t remember the name) had her baby when she was very young. Bale’s character married her to protect her kid. As for DOR, I definitely agree, it feels like J.Law is making same movies again and again.
I’m just over seeing Cooper, Lawrence and Co in the same movies. Plus I’m a JLaw fan and I already can’t stomach that she works with a slime ball like DOR. Esp after they got into that public fight on the Joy set. And no I don’t believe that was method…Jen said herself she usually shows up not practicing whatever scene she is supposed to shoot. So to me it was probably real.
I’m hoping that this is the last of Jen doing movies with him. Its the same role, same actors and same stupid Oscar bait stuff. There’s even a dance scene much like SLP. I’m ready for her to do something different. It’s just creepy that Holllywood has these old men picking young A-list girls to be their muses
Honestly this movie sounds boring as hell. SciFi, space drama love story? Yawn. With two actors that just don’t seem like they’d have any chemistry in all honesty. Pratt’s just too goofy. I like him, but I think he’s limited as an actor.
Also how awkward is work when you go and everyone knows what you’re getting paid?
Pratt definitely isn’t worth that much. His movies didnt need him to be hits. That’s also a really big budget for this kind of movie. I hope it doesn’t bite them in the ass.
Agree about Pratt. He is a likable guy but his films would have succeeded without him anyway. Jennifer has three Oscar nods and a win to her name and deserves a 20 million salary.
I wouldn’t say this film is an automatic home run but if the word of mouth is good and Jen and Chris have good chemistry, it could work.
In what way does J-Law deserve 20 million? She’s never had a hit (except House at end of street) on her name alone…..it’s always been mixed with 3 other big costars, a big director, and awards hype.
I actually just finished reading the script, spent the whole morning with it and it’s very promising! im no expert but i feel like there’s a lot of pacing issues, not much happens in the beginning and the action is all confined near the end of the third act and could easily look repetitive (it’s literally just pratt and lawrence with robots and holograms) and who knows what version of the script i read anyway. it’s very character driven, jennifer is only the supporting character (love she’s getting paid more than chris, the main male actor) and has the best role, even though she’s too young (shocker….she can’t seem to find a role of her age). the only big issue with this project is i dont want it to be directed by the imitation game director, im not interested in anything he does after the huge disappointment of that generic cbs pilot mess that is the imitation game.
oh, and i do wonder if they have good chemistry together, this is such a weird pairing i wouldve never thought of.
i will definitely look forward to it!
I’m all for JLaw getting a paycheck normally thrown at any male actor. She’s arguably the biggest female movie star in the world right now.
@Lila Fowler: yes, plus one zillion.
THG is a huge franchise and would be as successful if other mayonnaise actress starred in it. So I think it’s too soon to say that Lawrence can carry a movie. Cucumberbatch had the same fan base and was praised as a good actor by critics and his movie about Assange bombed in a way nobody expected.
Plus, the press tour for this movie will be the most annoying and obnoxious in the history.
@Alex: C’mon don’t sugarcoat…tell us how you feel.
No…I must disagree regarding THG and any other actress could have played the role, blah, blah, blah, etc., For example, see Divergent, Shaileen Woodley. Divergent actually topped THG in book sales but came woefully under THG in Box Office and critical acclaim. THG has kicked ass and the majority of the credit has always gone to Lawrence for carrying it. Oh, and regarding the press tour:
C’mon…I’m no Pollyanna, but you know the press tour will kick ass.
J-Law is the best thing about THG by miles. I doubt it would have made the box office it did without her in the lead role. Also, people forget that SLP and American Hustle made big profits as well, with her co-lead in the first and front and centre in the advertising for the second despite only playing a supporting role. And do people really think the studios splash around cash like that without doing basic market research into who audiences want to see on the big screen?
I’m not convinced. Seems like it’s been done before.
I could see these two paired up in a comedy and I think they’d be brilliant. Not saying they won’t be in a drama, but it’s more of a have-to-wait-and-see for me.
I heard great things about the script so I’m optimistic. I can’t wait to see how this end up and what kind of chemistry they have.
Space opera with Pratt and JLaw? Sounds boring to me but might be an OK summer flick. I am also not sure how much chemistry Pratt and JLaw are going to be able to master. I think the movie will do average but the issue is going to be the budget – the budget is too high for it.
I would wear every casual outfit she rocks so fast. Love her street style.
At least this movie will answer for real if Jennifer and Chris are really boxoffice draws and people will able to shut up about it.
This just feels like Jupiter Ascending all over again. Mila and Channing were killing it at the time and then blah. I like jlaw and Pratt so hopefully it does well, but I don’t have high expectations.
It’s perfectly fine for Jennifer to get that much money, she’s the biggest female star around. But she’s not a box office guarantee, nor is Pratt.
Pratt hasn’t actually had a leading role in anything other than franchises/comic book films, where the casting had nothing to do with why people went out to see the films.
This film doesn’t sound like something people will flock to see. The budget is also too high, which will make it harder to make a profit.
I stand for what I said in the previous post about this film: Get the money, girl!
Those two will bond like superglue and be cracking fart-jokes and leaving Doritos fingerprints all over the set.
I actually think they’ll look great together and would be interested in watching them in a good written romantic comedy. But this movie seems to me to be as interesting as paint drying…
She’ll be forgiven before him, because he has yet to prove his worth outside of franchises, while she is America’s darling.
Personally, I feel she’s kind of wooden in most films, hopefully other actresses such as Jessica Chastain could be paid more as well.
I’m eager to see this film…the script is terrific and I have a feeling that after JA, and Tomorrowland, SONY will (hopefully) market this film PROPERLY.
As for the leads, well, both are wonderful, well liked and, especially in Lawrence’s case, extremely talented. So, yeah, I’m excited for Passengers.
P.S. Bravo to you Jennifer Lawrence for your courage of conviction…looks like you got you money, girl!!. Awesome!.