The movie is about "a Smithsonian scientist who realizes his lifelong dream to travel in space," and will be directed by Michael Bay. It is not Schenkkan's first screenplay; he penned with Christopher Hampton "The Quiet American," the Graham Greene adaptation which starred Michael Caine and was released in 2002. He also wrote an upcoming miniseries about Spartacus, to be aired on the USA Network. Upcoming projects include a two part miniseries of Michael Crichton's "The Andromeda Strain" for Universal Television.

The Kentucky Cycle consisted of several one-acts presented on two separate evenings. Together, the plays covered 200 years in the history of two warring clans in and around Kentucky. Viewed by approving critics as a pageant in microcosm of American history, it was awarded the Pulitzer following a couple regional productions. Producer David Richenthal brought it to Broadway in November 1993, where is lasted only a month. It was the first Broadway credit for Richenthal, who went on to present the recent Broadway revivals of Death of a Salesman, The Price, The Crucible and Long Day's Journey Into Night. All four won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. His current project is a rare new play: Doug Wright's I Am My Own Wife.