The Forever War (Ridley Scott)

[Galactus]

Source: Eclipse Magazine June 4, 2008


Eclipse Magazine talked to Blade Runner and Alien director Ridley Scott, who says he's finally ready to go back to sci-fi:

I waited for a book for 20 years and I have got the book. I am not going to tell you what the book is but that film is going to probably be written within the next month. That will definitely be what I do next after Nottingham, the Robin Hood film that I am doing now in England.

He also talked a bit more about the long-gestating adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's acclaimed novel, Blood Meridian:

We got it down as a screenplay and the problem is that it is so savage. But that's what it is. If you did it properly it would be an X-certificate. But you can't apologise for the violence and you can't quantify the violence and you shouldn't try to explain the violence. It is what it is... an exercise in brutality, savagery and violence. For the most part it is probably relatively accurate. It shows the flipside to Dances With Wolves of how the United States was probably taken. It was taken by the throat.

 

[Dark Donnie]

The book he's talking about is Brave New World

http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=299270&highlight=dicaprio

 

[Catman]

The book he's talking about is Brave New World

http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=299270&highlight=dicaprio

So he waited 20 years to make Brave New World. A book every high school kid in America has read.

 

[Dark Donnie]

I guess, I've read that on mulitple sites that he's been circling that, I could be wrong though.

 

[Riven]

So he waited 20 years to make Brave New World. A book every high school kid in America has read.

Maybe he means he's been trying to secure the rights to the novel for 20 years? I dunno...


That said, I hope, if it is Brave New World, that we don't get yet another of these clichéd visions of an "organised" future dystopia (The Island, Minority Report, A.I., Gattaca, etc.) where everyone just wears the same white sweater and everyone's car is slightly more shiny... Give us an original look, Ridley!

 

[Hunter Rider]

Ha! I was gonna post this but since nothing is known yet and Gotham posted part of the article in the 'Nottingham' thread i decided to wait.

It could be the one Donnie posted but something else may have sparked his interest and may be closer to the Sci Fi roots he has, we'll know shortly.

 

[Space Moose]

I would have prefered a Logan's Run re-make but whatever.

 

[DorkyFresh]

Ridley would probably never do a remake. besides, the Logan's Run remake already has a director.

 

[Raiden]

Ridley would probably never do a remake. besides, the Logan's Run remake already has a director.

I heard the director is Bryan Singer.

 

[Nirvana]

I like dramatic Ridley Scott...

 

[Cinemaman]

I heard the director is Bryan Singer.

Singer was replaced last year, now it's job of some young maker of 3D commercial ads.

 

[biolumen]

Ridley Scott spoke with Eclipse Magazine and was asked why, after Alien and Blade Runner, he hasn't returned to the genre.

QUESTION: You directed Blade Runner and Alien, which are seminal science fiction films. Why have you not done more science fiction films?

RIDLEY SCOTT: I am going to do one. I waited for a book for 20 years and I have got the book. I am not going to tell you what the book is but that film is going to probably be written within the next month. That will definitely be what I do next after Nottingham, the Robin Hood film that I am doing now in England.

http://eclipsemagazine.com/hollywoo...cott-speaks-with-eclipse-by-scott-essman/5812

It's been rumored for some time that Ridley obtained the rights to Aldous Huxley's 1932 novel "A Brave New World". For those unaware, it's considered one of the all-time classics of science fiction literature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_New_World

Personally, I would have preferred something original, but I love this book (own a leatherbound copy myself) and if Ridley stays true to it, it could turn out to be something special.

 

[Lighthouse]

Funny, I'm actually happier about the news that Nottingham is in production. Can't wait to see that.

 

[Gotham]

Funny, I'm actually happier about the news that Nottingham is in production. Can't wait to see that.

As am I. I updated the thread last night with this. I don't think he has a Robin Hood, unfortunately, so we'll have to wait for that.

And to comment on this, I hope it's a Brave New World. I'd love to Ridley adapt this.

 

[cryptic name]

Brave New World isn't really sci fi though, is it? yeah it's in a utopian future and there are supposedly technological advances, but it's really a character drama and most of it takes place in the rural areas and that damn light house john the savage lives in at the end

 

[Galactus]

Ridley Scott to Film The Forever War
Source: Variety October 13, 2008


Fox 2000 has acquired rights to Joe Haldeman's 1974 novel "The Forever War," and Ridley Scott is planning to make it into his first science fiction film since he delivered back-to-back classics with Blade Runner and Alien, reports Variety.

Scott intended to follow those films with The Forever War, but rights complications delayed his plans for more than two decades.

The film will be produced by Scott Free. Vince Gerardis and Ralph Vicinanza will executive produce. Their company, Created By, represents Haldeman and spent the last decade trying to get back the rights.

"I first pursued 'Forever War' 25 years ago, and the book has only grown more timely and relevant since," Scott told the trade. "It's a science-fiction epic, a bit of 'The Odyssey' by way of 'Blade Runner,' built upon a brilliant, disorienting premise."

The book revolves around a soldier who battles an enemy in deep space for only a few months, only to return home to a planet he doesn't recognize some 20 years later, Scott said.

 

[Dark Donnie]

Sounds pretty cool

 

[dude stannis]

Yippie kai yay mother ****er!

This is one of my favourite novels of all time. I can't stress how happy I am with this development. The novel is pure epic, take The Odyssey and Blade Runner throw in Starship Troopers, Kingdom of Heaven and First Blood and multiply it by 1,000,000,000!

 

[Dark Victory]

Awesome news!!!

 

[Crook]

Oh hell yes, Scott finally returning to his best position. Some sh1t is about to go down.

 

[Hunter Rider]

This sounds awesome!

 

[kainedamo]

Maybe finally we can have an honestly god damn great science fiction film for the first time in years.

 

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=23403

The story follows a group of soldiers, but in particular William Mandella and his friend Marygay, conscripted into the military following an attack on human colonies by the alien Taurans. After gruelling training on Earth, he and his companions are sent through a wormhole-like phenomenon to fight - but the vast distances involved mean that each time they return to Earth, decades or centuries of local time have passed and society has massively changed, even though the soldiers have only experienced weeks or months of subjective time

Scott wanted to make the film 25 years ago, but rights issues prevented him from doing so at that point, so this will be his first sci-fi movie since the double whammy of Alien and Blade Runner. He's producing through his Scott Free company, and planning on hiring a writer at once, but we guess that this will come after Nottingham on his To Do list, and perhaps after the thriller Child 44 and fashion family drama Gucci as well. But however far away it seems (subjectively) let's hope he does go ahead with it, because it's a fascinating book.

 

[Cinemaman]

Intersting plot, I am looking forward to see true Scott's sci-fi action thriller. Who knows, it may be this century's Blade Runner

 

[dude stannis]

That said, I hope, if it is Brave New World, that we don't get yet another of these clichéd visions of an "organised" future dystopia (The Island, Minority Report, A.I., Gattaca, etc.) where everyone just wears the same white sweater and everyone's car is slightly more shiny... Give us an original look, Ridley!

Alien and Blade Runner are both very dystopic but in a very frighteningly realistic way. I hope Scott keeps the feel of these films.