Felicity Jones is headed back to space. The ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ star has joined the cast of ‘Good Morning, Midnight’, which George Clooney will direct and star in for Netflix. The film will be based on Lily Brooks-Dalton’s 2016 novel. Mark L. Smith is adapting the book into a screenplay.
The post-apocalyptic tale follows the parallel stories of Augustine (Clooney), a lonely scientist in the Arctic, and an astronaut on board the Aether spacecraft, which is trying to return home to Earth, as Augustine races to make contact with the spaceship.
Jones was nominated for an Academy Award for 2014’s ‘The Theory of Everything‘, and starred as Ruth Bader-Ginsberg in last year’s biopic ‘On the Basis of Sex’. She will next be seen in Amazon Studios’ ‘Aeronauts’ with her ‘Theory of Everything’ co-star Eddie Redmayne.
RELATED: George Clooney Will Direct And Star In ‘Good Morning, Midnight’ For Netflix
Clooney also recently completed a project for another streaming service, Hulu, with his miniseries ‘Catch-22’, which he produced, directed two episodes of, and acted in.
At the time of the announcement of ‘Good Morning, Midnight’, Clooney said:
“Grant [Heslov, Clooney’s production partner] and I couldn’t be more excited to be involved with this incredible project. Mark is a writer we’ve long admired and his script is haunting. We’re thrilled to be working with our friends at Netflix as well.”
Scott Stuber, the head of Netflix’s film division added:
“Having known and worked with George for over two decades, I can’t think of anyone better to bring this amazing story to life. The book is powerful and moving, and Mark’s adaptation is beautifully written. At its core, this is a story about human nature, and one that I know our global audiences will fall in love with, just like I did when I read it.”
‘Good Morning, Midnight’ appears to be early in development, but check back for updates.
Here is a longer description of the novel, courtesy of Bloody Disgusting:
Augustine, a brilliant, aging astronomer, is consumed by the stars. For years he has lived in remote outposts, studying the sky for evidence of how the universe began. At his latest posting, in a research center in the Arctic, news of a catastrophic event arrives. The scientists are forced to evacuate, but Augustine stubbornly refuses to abandon his work. Shortly after the others have gone, Augustine discovers a mysterious child, Iris, and realizes that the airwaves have gone silent. They are alone.
At the same time, Mission Specialist Sullivan is aboard the Aether on its return flight from Jupiter. The astronauts are the first human beings to delve this deep into space, and Sully has made peace with the sacrifices required of her: a daughter left behind, a marriage ended. So far the journey has been a success. But when Mission Control falls inexplicably silent, Sully and her crewmates are forced to wonder if they will ever get home.
As Augustine and Sully each face an uncertain future against forbidding yet beautiful landscapes, their stories gradually intertwine in a profound and unexpected conclusion. In crystalline prose, Good Morning, Midnight poses the most important questions: What endures at the end of the world? How do we make sense of our lives? Lily Brooks-Dalton’s captivating debut is a meditation on the power of love and the bravery of the human heart.
Source: Deadline
