“The Sparrow,” a novel by Mary Doria Russell has been picked up by Warner Bros. Pictures, Plan B and Industry Entertainment as a possible vehicle for Brad Pitt.

The scifi story centers around the first Jesuit priest to join a long space voyage to a distant planet outside Earth’s solar system after receiving a transmission sent from the alien inhabitants. Trouble ensues when the priest and crew show favor to one of the inhabitant’s race, sparking a possible civil war on the alien planet. When this occurs it forces the priest to reevaluate, not only his purpose for being on the journey, but his faith as well.

Pitt owns Plan B Productions and wants to do the part, however, scheduling conflicts with four other features he is currently connected with may have to either postpone “The Sarrow” shooting schedule or Warner Bros. may opt for another star.

Brad Pitt doesn’t venture into scifi moviemaking very much, but everytime he has the performance has been superb. Some of his other scifi, supernatural and fantasy venues have been “12 Monkeys”, with Bruce Willis, “Interview With the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles” with Tom Cruise and Kirsten Dunst, “Se7ven,” with Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey, and “Meet Joe Black” with Anthony Hopkins.