Constantin Film and Impact Pictures are heading into space. The companies jointly announced today that actors Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster are in final negotiations to join Pandorum, a sci-fi thriller set aboard an abandoned pioneer space vessel. Overture Films will release the film in North America.
Pandorum will be financed by Constantin Film under its joint venture deal with Impact Pictures, a Constantin Film subsidiary. Summit Entertainment is handling foreign sales for Constantin Film and will introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.
Quaid comes fresh off of Smart People and the international box office hit Vantage Point, and can next be seen in the upcoming Universal release The Express. He has recently completed production on Paramount Pictures’ G.I. Joe, and is currently shooting Legion for Screen Gems. Foster, currently in production in the starring role of The Messenger for Reason Pictures, has made a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s most exciting up-and-coming stars with powerful turns in 3:10 to Yuma and Alpha Dog. Christian Alvart, whose directorial debut Antibodies was met with rave reviews, is set to direct.
The feature reunites the successful producing team of Impact Pictures’ Paul W. S. Anderson and Jeremy Bolt, and Constantin Film’s Robert Kulzer. The trio has collaborated on a number of projects, including the hugely popular “Resident Evil” movie franchise. Last year’s third installment, Resident Evil: Extinction grossed nearly $150 million worldwide.
Dave Morrison is executive producing.
“We really look forward to working with Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster,” said Robert Kulzer. “Dennis has this true movie star quality and versatility, and Ben is such an intense and fascinating young actor.”
Added Jeremy Bolt: “Christian Alvart’s unique vision and passion for this project really blew us away. He is a very gifted young filmmaker.”
Overture’s Chris McGurk and Danny Rosett are committing to the project in anticipation of an early August start date in Berlin, Germany. Overture currently has the critically acclaimed Tom McCarthy feature The Visitor in theatres. Next up for the studio is Mark Pellington’s Henry Poole is Here starring Luke Wilson and Radha Mitchell on August 15th.
Developed at Constantin Film and Impact Pictures and written by Travis Milloy, Pandorum is a dark and claustrophobic tale about two crewmen who awaken aboard their spacecraft, unaware of their mission or their identities. As they piece things together, the men make a harrowing discovery that threatens the survival of mankind.
