We first told you that Skydance sold the Chris Pratt sci-fi film The Tomorrow War to Amazon Studios for $200M, and now that deal has closed with the streamer setting a July 2 drop date in 240 countries and territories. It’s the second Paramount release that Amazon has picked up after Coming 2 America which was a record-viewed hit for them. That Eddie Murphy title was snapped up by Amazon for $125M, as Deadline first told you. Tomorrow War‘s most recent theatrical release date was July 23. At one point before the pandemic, the movie was scheduled to release at Christmas last year.

In The Tomorrow War, written by Zach Dean, the world is stunned when a group of time travelers arrive from the year 2051 to deliver an urgent message: 30 years in the future mankind is losing a global war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians from the present to be transported to the future and join the fight. Among those recruited is high school teacher and family man Dan Forester (Pratt). Determined to save the world for his young daughter, Dan teams up with a brilliant scientist (Yvonne Strahovski) and his estranged father (J.K. Simmons) in a desperate quest to rewrite the fate of the planet.

“The Tomorrow War will be a global event that will surprise and delight our customers around the world,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “Director Chris McKay has brilliantly crafted this unique, action-packed sci-fi escape that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats and tug on their heart strings with its father-daughter storyline. We couldn’t be happier to continue our relationship with Chris Pratt—who brings such dynamic star power to the film—along with David Ellison and the Skydance team, as we share this exciting film with fans.”

“I’m so proud of this incredible cast and crew who worked under challenging circumstances to create a unique, original sci-fi action movie… something that’s increasingly rare. Watching this team of actors and artisans effortlessly blend action, horror, comedy, and drama was a dream come true for me … and I hope will thrill audiences this summer,” said director Chris McKay.

“It is fantastic to once again partner with Amazon to release another film from the Skydance canon,” said Skydance CEO David Ellison. “Jen and the marketing team have had great success in making film premieres on the Amazon platform must-see events and with Chris Pratt headlining, everything goes up to another level.” [Source]

Amazon Studios has swept in and is poised to land “The Tomorrow War,” a science-fiction action film with Chris Pratt that Skydance developed and produced. The price for the film is rumored to be roughly $200 million, but insiders stress the sale has not been finalized and financial terms have yet to be determined.

The film was being shopped to streamers and drew interest from companies due in part to its star power. Every major service, including Netflix and Apple, viewed the movie. Several were impressed by the film and thought it had commercial potential.

Amazon has been aggressive in landing splashy content, buying the likes of “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “Coming 2 America,” and the Michael B. Jordan thriller “Without Remorse” in recent months as the coronavirus pandemic has upended the theatrical landscape. It’s also a sign that Jennifer Salke, the head of Amazon Studios, is continuing to push the streamer to back bigger, broader and more mainstream projects and to move away from its time releasing smaller, arthouse features like “Wiener-Dog” and “Patterson.” The company hasn’t abandoned the awards game, however. This year, it is releasing Oscar contenders such as “One Night in Miami” and “Sound of Metal.”

Skydance recently sold its upcoming animated features, “Luck” and “Spellbound” to Apple, which will be part of an overall animation pact. Studios have leaned heavily on streaming services during COVID-19.

“The Tomorrow War” is set in a futuristic conflict, one that finds humanity losing the fight against an alien invasion. To level the playing field, scientists develop a way to draft soldiers from the past to fight the war.

The Tomorrow War is an upcoming science fiction action movie that is scheduled to release in 2021. The Tomorrow War is Chris McKay’s first live-action movie.

The American military sci-fi action movie, The Tomorrow War was originally titled “Ghost Draft” and is collectively produced by David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, David S. Goyer, Jules Daly, and Adam Kolbrenner. Zach Dean and Bill Dubuque have scripted the screenplay of The Tomorrow War with Ken Barthelemy on board as the creature designer who is developing the graphics for the aliens in this movie.

The Tomorrow War is produced by David Ellison’s Skydance Media which has also financed other blockbuster movies like “Mission: Impossible” and “Star Trek”.

Chris Pratt’s upcoming sci-fi actioner, which was recently retitled “The Tomorrow War,” has set a Christmas Day 2020 release date.

The Paramount film was formerly titled “Ghost Draft.” It follows a man (played by Pratt) who is drafted to fight a future war in which the fate of humanity may rely on his ability to correct issues of the past. Yvonne Strahovski, Betty Gilpin, J.K. Simmons and Mary Lynn Rajskub also star in the pic.

Chris McKay is directing from a script by Zach Dean.

David Ellison’s Skydance Media is financing. Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Jules Daly, David Goyer and Adam Kolbrenner are producing the project, while Rob Cowan serves as executive producer.

“The Tomorrow War” will face off against Universal’s historical drama “News of the World,” starring Tom Hanks.

Ellison’s company is best known for the “Mission: Impossible” and “Star Trek” movie franchises, and it recently opened “Terminator: Dark Fate” and “Gemini Man.” Its upcoming slate includes two more “Mission: Impossible” pics and “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Pratt became a worldwide star after headlining Disney-Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies as Star-Lord/Peter Quill and the “Jurassic World” films as dinosaur handler Owen. McKay made his feature directorial debut on “Lego Batman.” [Source]

Chris Pratt is set to executive produce The Tomorrow War, in addition to starring in the film. Originally titled Ghost Draft, the film is set in a future where the human race is waging a war against aliens. The plot will reportedly focus on a man who is drafted to fight in the war, with the chances for humanity’s survival relying on his ability to alter the mistakes of his past. GLOW standout Betty Giplin and J.K. Simmons – who has had a busy year, reprising his role as J. Jonah Jameson and playing a pivotal role in the Veronica Mars revival – have also been announced as leads. Yvonne Strahovski, Theo Von, Sam Richardson, and Keith Powers round out the cast.

Pratt is known for playing Peter Quill/Star-Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well portraying the affable Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation. His other big screen credits include tentpole projects like Jurassic World, The Lego Movie, and Passengers. Pratt has become one of Hollywood’s reliable leading men, with his name attached to a number of much-awaited sequels that are currently in various stages of development. The Tomorrow War, however, might have a special significance to the actor given that it’s his first time as an executive producer on a high-profile movie.

Pratt posted on his Instagram profile, sharing a first look at The Tomorrow War and mentioning why the original title was altered. The actor also ran through other possible titles for the futuristic wartime thriller. Some of them are more on the humorous side but others, like ‘World War A’, have a nice ring to it.

It looks like Paramount Pictures has officially changed the name of their upcoming time-travel action film Ghost Draft to The Tomorrow War, which is starring Chris Pratt (Guardians of The Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity War, Jurassic World) and directed by Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie).

A family man played by Pratt is thrust 40 years into the future to fight a war against a threat that could wipe out all humankind.

The name change likely has to do with their hope to screen the film in China without China, as ghosts (or even references to ghosts) are a big no-no with government censors.

The film seemingly mirrors Tom Cruise’s The Edge of Tomorrow, so they might as well use a similar title.

Pratt has taken to Instagram to announce the title change and posted a new set photo with a bunch of his fellow cast members as filming is taking place in Atlanta, Georgia.

The rest of the film’s cast includes J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, Juno), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24, Mr. Show), Mike Mitchell (Love), Betty Gilpin (Glow), Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck, The Predator), and Ryan Kiera Armstrong (IT: Chapter Two).

The film’s production team includes cinematographer Larry Fong (Kong: Skull Island, Watchmen, The Predator, 300) and production designer Peter Wenham (Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Bourne Ultimatum).

Chris Pratt is a busy bee as he’ll begin shooting Jurassic World 3 (working title Arcadia) at Pinewood Studios UK next year and then once James Gunn completes work on The Suicide Squad he’ll round-out Marvel’s Guardians of The Galaxy trilogy with the third installment (working title Hot Christmas).

Paramount has yet to give The Tomorrow War an official release date. [Source]

Chris Pratt is in negotiations to star in Skydance’s science-fiction project “Ghost Draft” with “Lego Batman’s” Chris McKay attached to direct.

Pratt’s deal is not closed. Plot details for “Ghost Draft,” a live-action project written by Zach Dean, are under wraps. Adam Kolbrenner and David S. Goyer will produce, with Dana Goldberg, Matt Grimm, and Don Granger overseeing for Skydance. Skydance is planning on a summer start of production.

Skydance is financing. David Ellison’s company is best known for the “Mission: Impossible” and “Star Trek” movie franchises. Its upcoming slate includes “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Terminator: Dark Fate,” and “Gemini Man.”

Pratt became a worldwide star after headlining Disney-Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies as Star-Lord/Peter Quill (also appearing in last year’s “Avengers: Infinity War”) and the “Jurassic World” films as dinosaur handler Owen. He also starred in “Passengers” with Jennifer Lawrence, and broke out in the long-running NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” He’s voicing both Emmett Brickowski and Rex Dangervest in “The Lego Movie 2: the Second Part.”

McKay made his feature directorial debut on “Lego Batman.” He’s attached to direct the Netflix comic book adaptation “Reborn” with Sandra Bullock producing.

Pratt is represented by UTA, Rise, and Sloane Offer. McKay is repped by UTA, Rise, and Morris Yorn. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood. [Source]