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