Lionsgate Shrugging

Daily Variety ^ | April 27, 2006 | Pamela McClintock

[Monkey King]

Ayn Rand's most ambitious novel may finally be brought to the bigscreen after years of false starts. Lionsgate has picked up worldwide distribution rights to "Atlas Shrugged" from Howard and Karen Baldwin ("Ray"), who will produce with John Aglialoro.

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 tome, 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.

[SlowBoat407]

All togeher now... Kiefer Sutherland as John Galt!!!

[Junior_G]

I could have guessed that Jolie was a Rand fan.

[rellimpank]

--way, way after the baby and lots of gym time--

[End Times Sentinel]

They'll have to go a long way to surpass the Archie Comics adaptation.

Veronica was a stunning Dagny Taggart and IMHO, John Gault's seminal portrial will always belong to Forsythe "Jughead" Jones.

[DoctorMichael]

"......When an institution reaches the degree of corruption, brazen cynicism and dishonor demonstrated by the U.N. in its shameful history, to discuss it at length is to imply that its members and supporters may possibly be making an innocent error about its nature—which is no longer possible. There is no margin for error about a monstrosity that was created for the alleged purpose of preventing wars by uniting the world against any aggressor, but proceeded to unite it against any victim of aggression. The expulsion of a charter member, the Republic of China—an action forbidden by the U.N.'s own charter—was a 'moment of truth,' a naked display of the United Nation’s soul. What was Red China's qualification for membership in the U.N.? The fact that her government seized power by force, and has maintained it for twenty-two years by terror. What disqualified Nationalist China? The fact that she was a friend of the United States."
~Ayn Rand (1972) ["The Shanghai Gesture—Part II," The Ayn Rand Letter, Vol 1, No. 14]

".....Yes. I do not sanction the grotesque pretense of an organization allegedly devoted to world peace and human rights, which includes Soviet Russia, the worst aggressor and bloodiest butcher in history, as one of its members. The notion of protecting rights, with Soviet Russia among the protectors, is an insult to the concept of rights and to the intelligence of any man who is asked to endorse or sanction such an organization. I do not believe that an individual should cooperate with criminals, and, for all the same reasons, I do not believe that free countries should cooperate with dictatorships......"
~Ayn Rand in a 1964 interview for Playboy magazine if she would "favor U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations".

[SlowBoat407]

You need a long rest in a quiet place.

[MaggieCarta]

(Ping)
I still don't know who John Galt is.

[Red Badger]

KEIFER SUTHERLAND FOR HANK REARDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......

[Red Badger]

JOHN KERRY FOR JAMES TAGGERT!..........

[SlowBoat407]

Anne Coulter as Dagny Taggart

[Andonius_99]

i can only see him as....Ah-rec Bal-win (see Team America)

[DoctorMichael]

".....call for a committee to evaluate a contest by architects for the rebuilding of certain "community projects" in New Orleans. I mean the very idea is antithetical to the stanard in The FOuntainhead....."

Howard Roark would probably blow the things up after he designed them anonymously.

[Red Badger]

DANNY DEVITO FOR HARRY MOUCH!......

[fishbabe]

Don't worry...She'll have plenty of time to get in shape...The company still has to find suckers,sorry,I mean investors to fund this movie....It will make a gazillon dollars and you get to see Jolie and Pitt as they walk by you...Any investors out there who'd love to lose some money!!!!!

[narby]

I could see Alec Baldwin as Wesley Mouch....

LOL - you got it!

[Red Badger]

JODIE FOSTER FOR DAGNY TAGGERT!.......

[Onelifetogive]

Casting alternatives, everyone!

There are enough looters in the book to keep most of Hollywood working...James Taggert, Balph Eubank, Bertram Scudder, Cuffy Meigs, Wesley Mouch, Lillian Rearden, Gertrude Rearden (Hank's mother), Philip Rearden.

[Red Badger]

Wesley Mouch is supposed to be short and fat, i think.........

[SlowBoat407]

"Get the hell out of my way."
- John Galt

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Twisted as ever!!!

Damn, I missed you!