Atlas Shrugged

[Galactus]

Jolie and Pitt Circling Atlas Shrugged?
Source: Variety April 27, 2006


Lionsgate has picked up worldwide distribution rights to Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged from Howard and Karen Baldwin (Ray), who will produce with John Aglialoro, reports Variety.

Angelina Jolie, a longtime devotee of Rand's, and Brad Pitt, also a fan, are rumored to be circling the leading roles of Dagny Taggart and John Galt.

Atlas Shrugged, which runs more than 1,100 pages, has faced a lengthy and circuitous journey to a film adaptation.

The Russian-born author's seminal novel, published in 1957, revolves around the economic collapse of the U.S. sometime in the future and espouses her individualistic philosophy of objectivism. The violent, apocalyptic ending has always posed a challenge but could prove especially so in the post-9/11 climate.

 

[KenK]

With everything right they've been doing right, staying out of the public eye as much as possible and not going in depth about their relationships in interviews, I'd hate to think they'd consider doing a movie together now that they're a couple. The likelihood of break-up is introduced and furthermore increased if the movie flops. Have they learned nothing from Madonna and Sean Penn, Tom and Nicole, Ben and Jen (part one)? They've done so well NOT making us sick like some other couples (I'm talking to you TomKat!!). I can't even remember the last time I heard Brad speak, or even give an interview for that matter. He seems quite content being Mr. Jolie. Lord knows I'd switch places with him if I could!

 

[terry78]

We had to read this thing in high school. And do skits about it. And write lengthy dissertations about it. It ruined my love of literature. Though Jolie can only play Dagny if she loses the curves, as Dagny is described as kind of a lanky but attractive female. Almost supermodel-ish.

 

[terry78]

Angelina Jolie Commits to Atlas Shrugged
Source: Variety
September 21, 2006


Angelina Jolie is set to star in the film adaptation of Ayn Rand's iconic novel "Atlas Shrugged" for Lionsgate, says Variety.

Howard and Karen Baldwin (Ray), who hold the rights to Rand's most ambitious novel, are producing with Media Talent Group's Geyer Kosinski, Jolie's manager.

Jolie, a longtime fan of Rand's, was eager to play the role of Dagney Taggart, the most powerful female character in any of Rand's books.

A movie version of the Russian-born author's novel, which runs more than 1,100 pages, has been long in the making. For years, producer Al Ruddy tried to bring "Atlas Shrugged" to the bigscreen, attracting the interest of Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway along the way.

Also producing are Lionsgate vice chair Michael Burns and president of production Michael Paseornek, who were instrumental in bringing the project into the indie studio.

 

[KingOfDreams]

Interesting. I wouldn't have expected to see an Ayn Rand book made into a film. Not sure why, though.

 

[ultimatefan]

Can you people tell me about Atlas Shrugged and what is the fuzz about it?

 

[tinister]

Atlas Shrugged is one of my favorite novels. I've read all of Rand's books.

It could make for a pretty good movie - with the right director - AND they don't chop up the story to fit it into 2 hours (definitely a 3 hour movie).

The main theme of the story is that basically the World takes for granted the ideas, inventions, and hard work of industrious men (and women).

That's as simple as I can put it without spoiling it for those who haven't read the book (or want to see the movie).

I read it when I was in college. Made a huge impression on me.

 

[FaT_tONle]

I've read ANthem... isn't this a prequel to that?

 

[tinister]

I've read ANthem... isn't this a prequel to that?

I think "Anthem" is unrelated to "Atlas Shrugged". But then again - most of Ayn Rand's stories "feel" like they occupy the same world. There is definitely a thematic thread that pulls all of them together.

To me - Anthem actually feels more like a followup on Atlas Shrugged. But again - I don't think they are related stories.

 

[Timstuff]

Never heard of this book or the writer. Then again my interest in novels is somwhat "limited".

 

[The Kid]

I read some of it, then lost the book some where. It's interesting. Some woman who owns a whole transit system does business and such in it with a guy who's a scientist and stuff, and she recalls her childhood and then there's parts about children dreaming of becoming something, then I don't know what happens next since I never got that far. Long read.

 

[Hunter Rider]

http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/759/759613p1.html

Atlas Shrugged Progress Report
Script almost complete.
by Paul Davidson

US, January 30, 2007 - Many producers have contemplated turning Atlas Shrugged, one of the 20th century's most influential novels, into a film. So far, the latest undertaking seems to be going smoothly.

As reported several months ago, Randall Wallace, who penned Mel Gibson's Braveheart, was given the task of adapting the complex 1,100-page book by Objectivist writer Ayn Rand. According to the UK's Guardian, the screenplay — aimed at only a two-hour running time — is nearly done, and production is scheduled to begin this year.

Angelina Jolie, a longtime fan of Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged, is still expected to play the starring role: a persevering, indefatigable female railroad tycoon named Dagny Taggart. Taggart oversees the country's most extensive and successful railway network during the country's industrial development of the '50s. As neighboring countries undergo socialist revolutions and American politicians begin nationalizing and over-regulating industry to save it, companies and individuals key to the survival of Taggart's railroad begin disappearing. Taggart goes on a quest to find out what has happened to these people — a journey that will lead her to discover the essence of humanity's ingenuity, enterprise, and the human spirit itself.

In addition to Jolie's part, there are several other key roles, mostly male, that have yet to be filled. Brad Pitt has been rumored to be up for one of them.

Atlas Shrugged is expected to reach theaters in 2008.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

Haven't read Atlas yet, but I enjoyed enough of Anthem to want to give it a shot, just as I'll probably give the movie a shot.

Anyone know who's directing?

 

[Galactus]

Perelman To Helm "Atlas Shrugged"
By Garth Franklin
Wednesday September 5th 2007 12:18am
Vadim Perelman ("House of Sand and Fog") has been brought in to rewrite and direct the film version of Ayn Rand's famed 1957 novel "Atlas Shrugged" for Lionsgate reports Variety.

While the studio needs to get a final script before committing to a start date, the move means they're in a strong position for an early 2008 production start.

The drama revolves around what happens when great industrialists and thinkers go on strike and the world grinds to a halt. Angelina Jolie remains committed to star and will probably do so once wrapping work on the Clint Eastwood-directed "The Changeling" for Universal.

"Braveheart" scribe Randall Wallace penned the original 127-page draft and will also stay involved in the project.

 

[bullets]

new franchise?

 

[MaskedManJRK]

Perelman To Helm "Atlas Shrugged"
By Garth Franklin
Wednesday September 5th 2007 12:18am
Vadim Perelman ("House of Sand and Fog") has been brought in to rewrite and direct the film version of Ayn Rand's famed 1957 novel "Atlas Shrugged" for Lionsgate reports Variety.

While the studio needs to get a final script before committing to a start date, the move means they're in a strong position for an early 2008 production start.

The drama revolves around what happens when great industrialists and thinkers go on strike and the world grinds to a halt. Angelina Jolie remains committed to star and will probably do so once wrapping work on the Clint Eastwood-directed "The Changeling" for Universal.

"Braveheart" scribe Randall Wallace penned the original 127-page draft and will also stay involved in the project.

Remember seeing House of Sand and Fog--not too bad, though the amount of people that tried or succeded in commiting suicide made it almost comical in the end.

Glad to hear that he's re-writing, though. Hopefully he'll extend the running time--you just cannot tell Atlas Shrugged in two hours. You'd need three hours, at least. Hell, the only way it could completely be told is if it went by this one rumor I heard that they plan to seperate it into three films.

 

[terry78]

I'd laugh my ass off if they decided to just scrap it and turn it into Bioshock, and have Jolie murdering little zombie girls and shooting electricity at giant diving suits.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

I'd laugh my ass off if they decided to just scrap it and turn it into Bioshock, and have Jolie murdering little zombie girls and shooting electricity at giant diving suits.

How is Bioshock? I've been wanting to play it--looks fun and I'm curious as to how a Objectivist utopia turns into a distopia--but I only have a Playstation 2.

 

[The Lizard]

Maybe they can get the reclusive Steve Ditko (co-creator of Spider-Man) to make an appearance in the film so we can actually see what he looks like these days.

 

[terry78]

How is Bioshock? I've been wanting to play it--looks fun and I'm curious as to how a Objectivist utopia turns into a distopia--but I only have a Playstation 2.

Steal someone's 360 or just "rent" one.

 

[Venomfan]

the only thing i've heard about this book was from reading something about the top most influential books and it was number 2. apparently it taught people to only look out for themselves and be selfish or something.

 

[C.F. Kane]

Read the first couple of chapters of the book, put it down, too lazy to read the rest.

And yet the movie still peaks my interest.

 

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=43995

EXCL: Atlas Shrugged Moves Forward
Source: Edward Douglas
April 11, 2008

ComingSoon.net just got off the phone with filmmaker Vadim Perelman, best known for his Oscar-nominated debut House of Sand and Fog and whose second film The Life Before Her Eyes opens next Friday. He updated us on the progress of his highly-anticipated adaptation of Ayn Rand's literary classic Atlas Shrugged, which he was attached to direct back in September before his new movie debuted at the Toronto Film Festival.

Perelman told us that he's finished with the script and just doing a polish on his rewrites but that Lionsgate has told him they want to move forward and start preparing the film in the fall to shoot in December, dependent on the script being in the right place by then.

Even though it's reputed to be one of the world's longest novels, Perelman believes they've got the screenplay down to a reasonable length, and he told us that actress Angelina Jolie is still very invested in making the film, being one of the project's "spearheaders."

You can read a lot more with Perelman in our full interview sometime next week.

 

[tzarinna]

Never heard of it, but I like this ----->violent, apocalyptic ending.

 

[C.F. Kane]

Even though it's reputed to be one of the world's longest novels,

But isn't most of the book just John Galt explaining Objectivism?