It hasn’t been the smoothest of rides for Sony’s adaptation of The Rosie Project up until now. Despite attracting two big-name stars in Jennifer Lawrence and Boyhood director Richard Linklater, the romantic drama was ordered back to the drawing board after losing both Lawrence and Linklater in quick succession.
But all is not lost – Deadline brings word that Deadpool‘s Ryan Reynolds is being eyed to headline the flick, one based on Graeme Simsion’s eponymous novel. Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber are working on the script, with Sony keen to remain largely faithful to Simsion’s acclaimed source material.
That means The Rosie Project will center around a reclusive genetics professor (Reynolds, potentially) who produces a scientifically proven survey that’ll help solve one of his biggest problems: finding a compatible life partner. All of that work is quickly upended after he crosses paths with Rosie Jarman, an unhinged, eccentric young woman who is just about as far removed from the professor’s arbitrary criteria as he can imagine.
Part of the reason why Sony is overhauling the project is the fact that, prior to her departure to work on Darren Aronofsky’s new feature, the role of Rosie Jarman was tailored for Jennifer Lawrence, even evoking the qualities of her award-winning role in Silver Linings Playbook based on the description. As such, even if Reynolds signs along the dotted line, there is plenty of work yet to be done before The Rosie Project steps in front of the cameras.
Can Reynolds be the one to steer The Rosie Project back on course? We’ll find out in due time. Elsewhere, the actor will soon be working with Sony, Jake Gyllenhaal and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation breakout Rebecca Ferguson for sci-fi thriller, Life.