Emma Roberts (Holidate, “Scream Queens”) and Laurence Fishburne (John Wick films, The Matrix trilogy) are set to star in the sci-fi thriller The Astronaut, it was announced today. Jess Varley (Phobias) makes her solo writing and directorial debut.

The Astronaut is produced by Brad Fuller (Paramount’s A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II, Universal’s The Purge films), Eric B. Fleischman (J.D. Dillard’s Sleight) and Cameron Fuller (Peacock’s “The Girl in the Woods”). 

Highland Film Group is representing international rights to The Astronaut, launching sales at the upcoming European Film Market. CAA Media Finance and the UTA Independent Film Group are co-repping domestic rights. Production is set to start later this year in Ireland.

When astronaut Sam Walker (Roberts) returns from her first space mission, she’s found miraculously alive in a punctured capsule floating deep off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. General William Harris (Fishburne) arranges for her to be placed under intense NASA surveillance in a high security house for rehabilitation and medical testing. However, when disturbing occurrences begin happening around the property, she fears that something extraterrestrial has followed her back to Earth.

“I was inspired by Jess’ vision and handle on the material and I’m thrilled to be working with her,” noted producer Brad Fuller.

“This story is very close to my heart and I’m profoundly grateful it’s resonated with such an immensely accomplished team of creatives. I couldn’t be more excited for audiences to fasten their seatbelts and go on this thrilling ride with us!” said writer/director Jess Varley.

“We are delighted to be working with such talented actors as Emma Roberts and Laurence Fishburne. They are phenomenal performers and a huge draw for international audiences and buyers alike,” said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser. “We are thrilled to also be working with producer Brad Fuller who continues to be a guiding force behind some of today’s most successful genre films,” added Highland COO Delphine Perrier.

Roberts is repped by CAA and Sweeney Entertainment; Fishburne is repped CAA, Landmark Artists Management, and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang; Varley is repped by Entertainment360 and Weintraub Tobin; Fuller is repped by UTA and attorneys Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.

Highland Film Group’s current sales slate also includes Simon West’s action comedy Old Guy starring Christoph Waltz; Audrey Cummings’ western action film Place of Bones starring Heather Graham and Tom Hopper; Joe Carnahan’s survival thriller Not Without Hope starring Zachary Levi; Dimitri Logothetis’ actioner Gunner starring Morgan Freeman and Luke Hemsworth; the sci-fi thriller Rachel starring Hannah John-Kamen and Theo Rossi; William Eubank’s action thriller Land of Bad starring Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth; Ben Brewer’s survival action-thriller Sand and Stones starring Nicolas Cage; Rod Blackhurst’s Blood For Dust starring Scoot McNairy, Kit Harington and Josh Lucas; Adam Cooper’s crime thriller Sleeping Dogs starring Russell Crowe; Rusty Cundieff’s 57 Seconds starring Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson; John Stalberg Jr.’s Muzzle starring Aaron Eckhart; Andy Fickman’s One True Loves starring Simu Liu, Phillipa Soo and Luke Bracey and Adrian Grünberg’s shark actioner The Black Demon starring Josh Lucas.