The Jennifer Lawrence/Chris Pratt romantic adventure “Passengers” may not be and kickstarted a studio career for its author, Jon Spaihts. Ahead of the release of Passengers, we got to chat to the man who came up with the idea, developed the film, and penned the script.
Born | New York City, New York, U.S. |
---|---|
Occupation | Screenwriter, author |
Years active | 1996–present |
Spouse(s) | Johanna Watts |
Jon Spaihts is an American screenwriter and author.
Early life and education[edit]
- Passengers By Jon Spaihts Pdf File. 2007 Black List, s.v. 'Passengers by Jon Spaihts'. 'Tomorrow’s Oscar Hopefuls Today'.
- Warner Brothers. PASSENGERS by Jon Spaihts. “A passenger on an intergalactic spaceship is the only one prematurely thawed out from cryogenic slumber 100 years before anyone else.” AGENT: Paradigm - Trevor Astbury, Rich Freeman. MANAGER: Circle of Confusion - David Alpert, Lawrence Mattis. SHUTTLECRAFT (ZERO GRAVITY).
- Early life and education. Spaihts was born in New York, the son of Jean, a computer programmer, and Jim Spaihts, an electronics engineer. Spaihts is an alumnus of Princeton University. His science fiction romance Passengers was included on the 2007 Black List of unproduced high-value screenplays. Keanu Reeves and Stephen Hamel had hired Spaihts to write the film after.
- The science is under the hood in “Passengers,” a love story set on a giant starship – and screenwriter Jon Spaihts is the guy who put it there. Chances are most movie fans are going to the. Image via Sony Pictures If you’re not familiar with Passengers, the film is a rarity in Hollywood: a bona fide 100% original sci-fi story.
Spaihts was born in New York, the son of Jean, a computer programmer, and Jim Spaihts, an electronics engineer.[1] Spaihts is an alumnus of Princeton University.[2]
Career[edit]
His science fiction romance Passengers was included on the 2007 Black List of unproduced high-value screenplays.[3]Keanu Reeves and Stephen Hamel had hired Spaihts to write the film after originally becoming attached to Spaihts' abandoned science fiction script Shadow 19.[4] After Reeves agreed to produce with Hamel and star in Passengers,[5] Spaihts was commissioned by Scott Free to write the next installments in the Alien saga, two prequel films to be directed by Ridley Scott, which eventually turned into the more autonomous story Prometheus, ultimately revised by Damon Lindelof.[6] For New Regency Spaihts also wrote the screenplay to the alien invasion thriller The Darkest Hour, based on a story by Leslie Bohem and M.T. Ahern.[7]
Spaihts has worked on a film version of St. George and the Dragon for Sony Pictures, and originated a Disney film project called Children of Mars. In 2012 he entered a two-picture deal at Jerry Bruckheimer Films to adapt Ashley Wood's graphic novel World War Robot[8] and write a space adventure film based on his own original pitch.[9]
He co-wrote the script for Marvel Studios' 2016 live action Doctor Strange film.[10] Spaihts also co-wrote the reboot of The Mummy franchise for Universal, directed by Alex Kurtzman.[11]
In 2013, Spaihts began work on the story for the Black Hole remake by Walt Disney Studios.[12] The rights to his early science fiction screenplay had originally been sold to the Weinstein Company, with Keanu Reeves and Reese Witherspoon set to star, and Game of Thrones director Brian Kirk at the helm.[13] The project was later made into the 2016 film Passengers by Sony Pictures, produced by Original Film and Company Films, directed by Morten Tyldum, and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt.[14] Bot tales of pirates.
Personal life[edit]
He has written several books for The Princeton Review.[15] Spaihts lives and works in Venice, California,[2][unreliable source?] and is married to actress Johanna Watts.[16][unreliable source?] He is also a photographer.[17] Halo combat evolved for mac full version.
Filmography[edit]
Year | Title | Writer | Executive producer | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | The Darkest Hour | Yes | No | Chris Gorak | Co-wrote with Leslie Bohem and M.T. Ahern |
2012 | Prometheus | Yes | No | Ridley Scott | Co-wrote with Damon Lindelof |
2016 | Doctor Strange | Yes | No | Scott Derrickson | Co-wrote with Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill |
Passengers | Yes | Yes | Morten Tyldum | Also voiced 'Autodoc' | |
2017 | The Mummy | Story | No | Alex Kurtzman | Co-wrote with Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet |
2021 | Dune | Yes | Yes | Denis Villeneuve | Co-wrote with Villeneuve and Eric Roth |
2022 | Minecraft[18] | No | Yes | Peter Sollett | |
TBA | Van Helsing | Yes | No | TBA | Co-wrote with Eric Heisserer and Dan Mazeau |
Dune: The Sisterhood | Yes | Yes | Denis Villeneuve | Television series |
References[edit]
- ^Olson, Pamry (May 1, 2012), 'Prometheus Screenwriter: Humans Will Never Reach Another Star, And Other Sobering Views On The Future', Forbes, p. 2, archived from the original on May 2, 2012, retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ abCf. Spaihts' profile on Facebook.
- ^Leonard F (ed.). 2007. 2007 Black ListArchived July 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, s.v. 'Passengers by Jon Spaihts'. 5. Cf. Halbfinger DM. 2007. 'Tomorrow’s Oscar Hopefuls Today'. The New York Times (December 8, 2007).
- ^Fleming M. 2009. 'Alien prequel takes off'. Variety (July 30, 2009).
- ^Sciretta P. 2007. 'The Hottest Unproduced Screenplays of 2007'Archived October 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Slashfilm (December 9, 2007).
- ^Aspin, M. 2012. 'Read The Original Alien-Style Prometheus Script'.Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. What Culture (November 13, 2012).
- ^Siegel T. 2010. 'Hirsch signs on for The Darkest Hour'. Variety (April 10, 2010).
- ^Radish, Christina (April 9, 2012), 'Screenwriter Jon Spaihts Talks Prometheus, World War Robot, Children of Mars, George and the Dragon, and More', Collider, archived from the original on April 10, 2012, retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ^Chitwoold, Adam (February 11, 2012), 'Jerry Bruckheimer to Produce Space Adventure Film', Collider, archived from the original on May 2, 2012, retrieved April 2, 2012.
- ^Fleming, Jr, Mike (June 18, 2014). 'Marvel Setting Jon Spaihts To Script 'Doctor Strange''. Deadline. Archived from the original on June 22, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ^Goldberg, Matt (April 4, 2012), 'Prometheus Co-Writer Jon Spaihts to Reboot The Mummy Franchise', Collider, archived from the original on May 2, 2012, retrieved April 10, 2012; Universal Studios press release in (May 1, 2012), 'Universal Signs Kurtzman and Orci; Pair Takes On The Mummy and Van Helsing', Deadline, archived from the original on May 2, 2012, retrieved May 1, 2012.
- ^Baxter, Joseph (April 5, 2013). 'The Black Hole Remake Lands Prometheus Writer'. TheFeed.
- ^Brzeski, Patrick (May 21, 2013), 'Cannes: Weinstein Co. Picks Up Reeves-Witherspoon Space Romance Passengers', The Hollywood Reporter, archived from the original on June 23, 2013, retrieved June 23, 2013.
- ^Donnelly, Matt (June 16, 2015), 'Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence Sci-Fi Romance 'Passengers' Greenlit at Sony Pictures', TheWrap, archived from the original on June 17, 2015, retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^E.g. Spaihts J. 1997. Student advantage guide to the best graduate programs: humanities and social sciences. New York: Random House (The Princeton Review Series). ISBN978-0-679-76911-8; cf. also WorldCat entries of Spaihts' publications below.
- ^Cf. Watts' profile on Facebook; see also Johanna Watts at IMDb.
- ^'Interview (Part 1): Jon Spaihts'. December 20, 2016.
- ^'The Minecraft movie is just around the corner!'. Mojang AB. April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
External links[edit]
- Jon Spaihts at IMDb
- Jon Spaihts at AllMovie
- Works by or about Jon Spaihts in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
- Jon Spaihts' portfolio at photo.net
“” is a futuristic sci-fi movie with a very complicated past. Opening Wednesday and starring and as passengers on an intergalactic spaceship who are prematurely thawed out of a cryogenic slumber 90 years before the ship reaches its destination, the project has been gestating in Hollywood since 2007. But the lengthy production history doesn’t seem to have done the movie any favors. While its marketing suggests the kind of brainy space drama that made “Interstellar” such an anticipated fall release not too long ago, “Passengers” has disappointed critics and sci-fi fans alike, earning a Metascore of 42. The late December release date (the film opens today) also represents a curious position on the calendar, sandwiched between distributors’ early December dumping ground and the coveted Christmas Day slot. And while the film is certainly commercial and may still find success at the box office, thanks in part to having two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, the early reception suggests the project is not headed for a happy ending after all these years.
The Passengers script was written by Jon Spaihts. Download, free, Jon Spaihts, Passengers, Passengers. We'll send you a PDF of a script that you can't. Jon Spaihts is an American screenwriter. After Reeves agreed to produce with Hamel and star in Passengers, Spaihts was commissioned by Scott Free to write the.
The origin of “Passengers” goes back to a sci-fi spec script called “Shadow 19” that screenwriter Jon Spaihts wrote a couple years before “Passengers.” Spaihts’ first screenplay, “Shadow,” told the story of an elite solider sent on a suicide mission to a hellish planet. Warner Bros. bought the script, with Keanu Reeves attached to star and his Company Films partner Stephen Hamel producing. However, the pair couldn’t get Warners to greenlight the movie. When “Shadow 19” faded away, Hamel and Reeves reached out to Spaihts to see if they could find another project.
Spaihts pitched an idea about a man stranded alone in space, a concept that piqued Reeves and Hamel’s interest. “They said, ‘Is there a story that starts there?' ” Spaihts told Indiewire in a recent interview. On the spot, Spaihts came up with a story about a man on a colony ship who awakens from a long sleep too soon. “I riffed the spine of the movie, title and all,” he said. Reeves and Hamel loved the idea and hired Spaihts to write the first draft for Company Films. “The core of the story was born on that phone call,” Spaihts said.
“It really has never changed, aside from many, many refinements.” The script for “Passengers” was a favorite among movie executives, as evidenced by its placement on the 2007 Black List, the annual grouping of Hollywood’s favorite scripts not being released in theaters the following year. “Passengers” was championed by 38 film industry professionals that year, more than any other script aside from Danny Strong’s “Recount” and Beau Willimon’s “Farragut North.”. Packaging the script with a director and talent that could get the project off the ground, however, proved extremely challenging. In 2010, “The Pursuit of Happyness” director Gabriele Muccino came on board, with Reeves attached in the lead, but the project languished in development. Meanwhile, Spaihts caught the attention of director Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions, which hired him to write a prequel to “Aliens” that became 2012’s “Prometheus.” He also has credits on Marvel’s “” and Universal’s upcoming “The Mummy.” In 2013, “Game Of Thrones” and “Boardwalk Empire” director Brian Kirk replaced Muccino, signing on to direct “Passengers” as his feature debut. Reese Witherspoon became attached shortly thereafter to play the role of Aurora opposite Reeves, and The Weinstein Company bought distribution rights at the Cannes market. Later that year, Witherspoon dropped out due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced by Rachel McAdams.
The $35 million project seemed ready for launch, with Wayfare Films financing and producing alongside Company Films, but in 2014, McAdams also dropped out, and the Weinstein Company abandoned the project. Jennifer Lawrence in “Passengers” Sony Pictures Classics What accounted for all the false starts? Come reinstallare windows installer.
According to Spaihts, nobody knew how to properly value “Passengers,” which failed to fit neatly into established film industry categories. “It’s a philosophical drama, an existential comedy, a love story, a survival thriller, a space epic, and it moves in passages from one genre to another,” he said. “Studios resist that kind of fluidity. They like to know exactly what box a movie belongs in so they know to sell it.” For a while, the movie benefited from the popularity of 2013’s “Gravity.” The next year, as “Interstellar” hit theaters, interest in “Passengers” gained steam again. In December 2014, Sony Pictures Entertainment won an auction for the rights to the film. Reeves, however, dropped out of the project he’d championed for roughly seven years.
At the time, he was fresh from the indie success of “John Wick” but his studio currency had faded. The big-budget “47 Ronin” had flopped a year earlier, not long after a similarly mediocre reception to “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” “I haven’t been getting many offers from studios,” he in October of that year.
“It sucks, but it’s the way it is.” With Reeves no longer attached, the studio landed Oscar-nominated “The Imitation Game” director Morten Tyldum and paired Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence with rising star Chris Pratt in the leads. “With Morten, Chris, and Jennifer, we had three powerful creatives who represented a winning proposition,” Spaihts said. The success of “Prometheus,” which took in nearly $400 million at the worldwide box office, also made Spaihts an asset, compared to a few years earlier when he was still an unknown writer. “Passengers” was already at Sony when former Fox Film Entertainment CEO Tom Rothman arrived to replace Amy Pascal as the studio’s chairman, but Rothman greenlit the film at its revised $120 million budget, giving it the rare distinction of a big-budget studio movie not based on an existing property. He stands by that risky move. “If we don’t keep trying to make original subjects, and just keep making the next big installment of the last ‘franchise,’ I believe the theatrical business will slowly die off,” Rothman wrote to IndieWire in an email. “Big, smart, daring, original subjects are really hard to find, and I want to fight for them.”.
“Passengers” director Morten Tyldum on set with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence Sony Pictures Entertainment “Passengers” made headlines when it was revealed that Lawrence would be paid $20 million, more than Pratt’s $12 million salary, bucking the trend of Hollywood’s gender pay gap. The shoot was grueling for both actors, however, who didn’t have the luxury of a supporting cast, aside from small roles played by Laurence Fishburne and Michael Sheen. “Usually you can give your actors a day or two off because you can shoot something else,” Tyldum told IndieWire. “Here there was not a single hour of rest, especially for Chris, who had to be there every day in more or less every scene.” For Tyldum, who knew nothing about the project’s history before signing on, “Passengers” represented an opportunity to make a movie unlike any of his previous four features.
“I always wanted to do a sci-fi movie, but most sci-fi scripts are either about saving the planet or fighting aliens,” he said. “This was a very character-driven, intimate film, and at the same time it had epic scale.” One plot twist that the trailer to “Passengers” doesn’t give away, but that was widely discussed on comment boards when the script was shared online, raises an important and controversial ethical question. “I wanted this movie to be commercial, entertaining, and a popcorn movie, but at the same time, there’s a message there,” Tyldum said. “I want people to talk about it when they walk out and discuss elements, like what would you do?”.
Passengers By Jon Spaihts
Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt in “Passengers” Sony Pictures Entertainment While the ethical quandary may have added a compelling new dimension to the script, the filmmakers’ breezy approach feels like a missed opportunity to add meaningful depth. Whether certain scenes ended up on the cutting room floor or the film never drilled deeper into this territory, there’s a distinct feeling that Pratt and Lawrence’s talents were underutilized at a time when both are in high demand. In her, IndieWire’s Kate Erbland noted that the movie’s “icky questions of consent that run through its central narrative are brushed aside by the film’s iffy conclusion.” For the studio, there may still be a silver lining. Despite its negative critical reception, Sony’s projections for “Passengers” are in the first six days; other estimates have come in as high as $50 million. Spaihts certainly thinks the story he first pitched roughly a decade ago has universal appeal. “While we will never be called upon to make the choices that Jim and Aurora in ‘Passengers’ have to make, and the circumstances they’re trapped in are rather outrageous, I do think that the questions they have to wrestle with are questions we all have to wrestle with,” he said. “So even if we’ve never been in hibernation on a starship between stars, I think a lot of us have lived parts of this story, which is why it can resonate even though its premise is so fantastical.”.
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Jon Spaihts Shadow 19
A space-based drama called Passengers is the script that led to Jon Spaihts scripting the Alien prequel that became Prometheus. Popular as Passengers was with those who read it, the project has languished for years in a sort of development hell. The script is built around a great concept in which a malfunction on a ship transporting sleeping humans through space wakes one passenger.
Unable to go back to deep sleep and frightened of spending his entire life alone, the man wakes a female passenger. Now, after stalling out some time ago the film is finally moving forward once again, with Keanu Reeves starring and Game of Thrones director Brian Kirk set to make his feature debut.
Has the info, saying that Wayfare Entertainment will finance and produce. Kirk was previously poised to make the leap to the big screen with the Thor sequel, before that job went to Alan Taylor. Reeves has been attached to Passengers for a long time, beginning before Gabriele Muccino and, obviously, carrying through to the present. Here’s the synopsis that has been passed around since the script hit the Black List of popular unproduced screenplays: 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.
Passengers By Jon Spaihts Pdf File
As you can imagine, the casting choice for the woman is particularly important, and that choice has not yet been made. We’re still hopeful that this will really get made, and that the qualities that made Passengers so attractive manage to remain intact all the way to the screen.