Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are lost in space in the first trailer for sweeping sci-fi adventure Passengers – and the results look truly awe-inspiring. Read our trailer breakdown here.
1. Best. Couple. Ever.
The trailer begins in a crafty way by not even spelling out where our characters are. Even so we get a hint that something futuristic is afoot when Pratt's character Jim Preston posts a request for a date to Aurora (Lawrence) by way of a handy robot. Megastars Pratt and Lawrence together on screen for the first time already looks to spell big screen gold – and who can resist the chemistry between two of the most likeable film stars on the planet?
2. It's Michael Sheen... but not as we know it!
So the acclaimed Frost/Nixon actor plays nattily attired Arthur and we see him serving our two heroes drinks. Nothing amiss about that, right? That is until the big reveal where the camera pans down his body to reveal him as a robotic creation with mechanics in place of human legs. It's the ideal segue way into the epic revelation about where Preston and Aurora are... and what their mission is...
3. Star trekkin'
A jaw-dropping shot of a spaceship hurtling through the void establishes the trailer's previously enigmatic setting, hinting at the awesome scope of Imitation Game director Morten Tyldum's new movie. It turns out our central characters were destined to head into the great beyond on a 120 year journey to a new planet... but have been awoken from stasis 90 years too soon, leaving them both alone on their enormous vessel with no way of going back to sleep. Looks like they're stuck together...
4. Family goodbye
A brief shot that hints at the kind of raw emotion at which Lawrence excels, Aurora gazing at a screen displaying what are presumably the loved ones that she's left behind. That's the kind of emotional devastation only an intergalactic space mission will lead to.
5. Something's wrong...
As our characters come to terms with their predicament the ship's lights trip out and Arthur does some sort of crazy move with his head, smashing it into the bar. What kind of danger do Preston and Aurora face on their trip? One thing's for sure, it involves tooling up – and given Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence aced that in both Jurassic World and The Hunger Games, who can resist?
6. Always wear sunscreen
A quick shot that reminds us of Danny Boyle's underrated 2007 sci-fi Sunshine, as Preston and Aurora are framed in front of a window against the blazingly bright light of a star. Could it be our sun? Either way, our jaws have dropped.
7. Sacrifice!
The old teammate-goes-into-the-airlock routine gets a Chris Pratt makeover as Preston makes a drastic decision to save both of their lives. But Aurora isn't having it: "If you die, I die!" Crikey – it seems we're going to be getting a galaxy load of emotion to go with the action and spectacle.
8. Cameos!
Quick shots of heavyweight actors including The Matrix's Laurence Fishburne and The Godfather Part III's Andy Garcia promise some gravitas-laden back-up in the supporting cast department.
9. Bubbles!
Why is J-Law floating around in water vapour? Who cares at this stage, it looks awesome.
10. The truth is out there...
The enigmatic final line of the trailer is destined to linger in the mind: "There's a reason why we woke up early..."
OK now we really want to know the truth, darn it! Sadly we have to wait a few more months – Passengers is released on 23rd December.
Check out the trailer for yourselves and send us your thoughts @Cineworld.
© 2016 Sony Pictures Releasing (UK). All rights reserved.
