Jay Roach is on board to rewrite and possibly direct the sci-fi romance “Intelligent Life” for Amblin Entertainment.
The film is based on the original script by “Jurassic World” director Colin Trevorrow and his collaborator Derek Connolly. Ava DuVernay was initially on board to direct with Lupita Nyong’o set to star, but Nyong’o departed after DuVernay left to helm Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” putting the film on hold.
Steven Spielberg’s Amblin is producing the project along with Trevorrow, Frank Marshall, and Peter Saraf. Connolly and Marc Turtletaub are exec producing.
Amblin and Spielberg are enthused about the project given Trevorrow and Connolly’s script, and moved fast to get A-list talent to push the project forward.
The movie centers on a United Nation employee who makes contact with a beautiful woman, who may be an alien, while monitoring outer space.
Sources say Roach has only committed to polishing the script, but add that Amblin is encouraging him to take a larger role once the rewrite has been completed.
Roach, who’s best known for the hit comedy franchises “Austin Powers” and “Meet the Parent,” has focused his efforts in recent years to politically-driven movies like “Recount” and “Game Change,” both of which were released by HBO and nabbed Emmys for outstanding made for television movie and outstanding miniseries or movie, respectively.
He is repped by WME and Mosaic.
Related stories
'All the Way' Director Jay Roach Remembers First Emmy Wins For 'Recount'
Walter Cronkite Vietnam Film in Development at Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment
What 'All the Way' Says About Politics Today -- And Even About Donald Trump
Get more from Variety and Variety411: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter