Writer-director Billy Ray (Breach, Shattered Glass) will direct the sci-fi romance, Departure, from an original script he wrote. The Hunger Games screenwriter based this new picture in part on the Martin Candin book, Ghosts of the Air, which recounts true-life pilots’ experiences with aviation mysteries, such as planes disappearing in mid-air. Ray’s treatment centers on an FAA investigator who is looking into the phenomena occurring with increasing frequency in the skies over Miami. The man’s quest takes a personal turn when it’s revealed that his wife is a passenger on an affected plane. Casting is expected to begin immediately. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Here’s the full press release:

BILLY RAY TO WRITE AND DIRECT ‘DEPARTURE’ FOR GOOD UNIVERSE PRODUCED BY JIM WHITAKER

Los Angeles (May 15, 2013) – Good Universe announced today that Billy Ray (The Hunger Games, Breach, Shattered Glass, and the upcoming Captain Phillips) will direct DEPARTURE for the studio, from an original script he wrote. Jim Whitaker (The Odd Life of Timothy Green, American Gangster) will produce the sci-fi/romance. Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane will executive produce. Spencer Wong will oversee the project on behalf of Good Universe. Elizabeth Ingold will oversee for Whitaker Entertainment. Good Universe has the project on the fast-track and will begin casting right away.

Based on the true story of a never-explained avionic phenomenon, DEPARTURE follows a brilliant Miami-based FAA investigator who is obsessed with learning how a 727 suddenly vanished into thin air and then reappeared in the exact same spot ten minutes later. As mysterious occurrences continue to occur with increasing frequency in the skies over Miami, the investigation becomes personal when the employee’s beloved wife is on one of the planes affected.

The story is inspired by the book “Ghosts of the Air” by Martin Caidin, which documents real accounts from pilots who have experienced flight anomalies.

Dan Freedman negotiated the deals for Good Universe. Billy Ray is represented by CAA, Management 360 and attorney Peter Nichols of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman.