In a development that appears to be the brink of being fast-tracked, Paramount Picture may be committing to the long gesticulating science fiction film God Particle. Rising actors David Oyelowo (Selma) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle) appear in negotiations to star in the film which will be directed by Julius Onah (The Girl is in Trouble) and produced by J.J. Abrams. Variety broke the story.

God Partcle centers around astronauts who embark on a horrifying discovery that may threaten the very fabric of reality. The film is set in the near future and segues into a quest for survival. Paramount may moving quickly here on the success of their current hit 10 Cloverfield Lane, another film produced under Abrams’ Bad Robot banner. The distributor is seeking a theatrical release of February 24, 2017, so confirmation of the production shoot will likely be underway shortly. No further casting options have become available as of yet.

Both Oyelowo and Mbath-Raw have been quite in demand as of late. Both are Oxford natives and starting to breakthrough with a diverse array of performances. Oyelowo, who earned Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award nods for his role as Martin Luther King Jr. in in 2014 film Selma, has three films on his roster for 2016: A United Kingdom from Belle director Amma Asante, Queen of Katwe opposite Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o and the bio Nina starring Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy). He is currently filming American Express alongside Charlize Theron, Joel Edgerton and Amanda Seyfried.

Mbatha-Raw was last seen on screen as Will Smith’s wife in Concussion. This year, she co-stars alongside Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey in the Civil War drama Free State of Jones and will be featured in the thriller The Whole Truth. Upcoming, she is set for the gun-control drama Miss Sloane opposite Jessica Chastain and will be featured in Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast for director Bill Condon (Dreamgirls).

We will stay tuned to the latest developments on God Particle.