Chris Weitz, who in 2004 committed the grand contumelies of kicking Tom Stoppard off the project and nixing all references to God, is now back on the His Dark Materials film project. I fear the worst. (via Ghost in the Machine)
Category / Literary Adaptations
Keira Knightley + Ian McEwan = Recipe for Disaster?
Romancing the Tome observes that a film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s great novel Atonement is in the works. Attached to the project is Joe Wright and Keira Knightley, the team behind last year’s Pride and Prejudice adaptation. Knightley is playing Cecilia. Even stranger, Rue McClanahan is involved. It seems strange to me that Wright seems single-handedly committed to classing up Knightley’s career. Maybe it’s just me, but compared with, say, Sarah Polley five years ago, I really don’t see her as an actor of considerable heft.
At the Beverly Hills 90210 of Madness?
Excerpt from Upcoming “Atlas Shrugged” Script
Starpulse: “After years of delays, Ayn Rand’s famous novel ‘Atlas Shrugged’ is being made into a feature film starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, according to media reports. Lionsgate Films bought the rights to the film version of the 1957 novel, considered in many polls to be one of the most influential books in history. According to Hollywood trade paper Variety, the Mr. And Mrs. Smith co-stars, who are both fans of the Russian novelist, would play the lead roles of Dagny Taggart and John Gault. [sic]”
Return of the Reluctant has obtained an exclusive excerpt of the upcoming Atlas Shrugged script, which was reportedly written by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie themselves.
INT. TAGGART TRANSCONTINENTAL OFFICE — DAY
Taggart is bent over the desk. Galt is behind her.
Your name is neither Jen nor Aniston. She is not selfish enough.
That’s why you came to me. It is the natural way of things.
If you do not give into your latent selfish desires, I will impregnate you again. Say it! Say it!
Who is John Galt?
That is quite a witticism. Again!
Galt handcuffs Taggart’s wrists.
I can’t hear you. If you do not have a response, I must ask you to whimper. I am an intense man, Dagny. Do not test me.
Who is John Galt?
Do you feel pain?
Yes. Pain is the best thing for America. Pain is the best thing for me, and therefore for America. We can build railroads. We can accumulate capital.
I am satisfied that you have come to terms with this concept. We can do more. This is a battle of wills. Who’s your daddy, Dagny?
John Galt!
(via Bookdwarf)
Screenwriters Not Nominated for Oscars Are Still on Safe Ground
Daniel Clowes on the Art School Confidential film adaptation and more: “But, of course, there’s some human instinct that takes over at the very last minute. As the envelope’s being opened and all of a sudden it occurred to me that without a doubt we were going to win and I was just stricken with panic. I don’t think I’ve ever been more terrified in my life. I was so happen to hear the words ‘Akiva Goldman.'” (via Fantagraphics Blog)