Netflix has secured the sci-fi screenplay Somewhere Out There, written by Max Taxe, following an intense bidding competition. The project gained significant attention due to the involvement of Shawn Levy, known for directing Deadpool and Wolverine, who is set to direct the film.
Levy will also produce the project through his company, 21 Laps, alongside Dan Levine. The film is characterised as "emotional sci-fi," drawing comparisons to Levy’s earlier work on Arrival, a film about alien encounters, and The Adam Project, a family-focused time travel adventure released by Netflix in 2022.
The plot revolves around a grieving father who, after the death of his wife, sends a message into space, prompting a response from an unknown source. Sources indicate that several well-known actors are interested in playing the father’s role, a testament to Levy’s reputation in the industry for collaborating with stars like Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
Becca Edelman, who introduced the project to 21 Laps, will supervise its development. Currently, Levy has just finished filming Starfighter, a new movie in the Star Wars series starring Ryan Gosling, which is set for a theatrical release on May 28, 2027.
Levy’s previous film, Deadpool & Wolverine, made history as the highest-grossing R-rated film, amassing over $1.3 billion worldwide. Taxe is already collaborating with 21 Laps on his original script Ripple, featuring Jack Quaid, and previously wrote the script for Moonshot, a romantic sci-fi comedy released in 2022.
21 Laps, known for producing Stranger Things, continues to be a significant player in film production, currently working on two Netflix projects: the comedy One Attempt Remaining and an untitled hockey series starring Michelle Monaghan.
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