Crusader will put Hart into Rand's 'Atlas'

Variety ^ | 5/12/03 | DAVE MCNARY

[RJCogburn]

Phillip Anschutz's Crusader Entertainment has acquired film rights to Ayn Rand's bestselling novel "Atlas Shrugged" and tapped James V. Hart to write the screenplay.

The story, first published in 1957, revovles around an economic collapse in the near-future United States as its top innovators and industrialists inexplicably disappear amid the growing power of politicians. The novel is also widely recognized for espousing Rand's philosphy of Objectivism, which advocates laissez-faire capitalism and self-sufficiency.

"We are so thrilled to have gotten the rights to such a tremendous work -- it is a great story that has equal parts mystery and romance and also celebrates the limitless potential of the human spirit," Crusader CEO Howard Baldwin said. "The time is right to bring this ageless story to the bigscreen."

Rand's "The Fountainhead" was made into a 1949 feature starring Gary Cooper and Patricia O'Neal.

Hart's credits include "Contact," "Hook," "Bram Stoker's Dracula," "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" and the miniseries "Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story." He's also contributed to Crusader/Paramount's upcoming "Sahara" and Par's "Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life: Tomb Raider 2."

"Ayn Rand created extraordinary events and powerful characters over 50 years ago in her visionary novel that are suddenly coming frighteningly true all around us every single day," Hart said. "This is a big, important challenge as a screenwriter and a great privilege."

Crusader acquired the rights from John Aglialoro, who will exec produce. Aglialoro, CEO and chairman of Cybex Intl., bought the book rights in 1992.

Formed in 2000, Crusader is controlled by Denver-based billionaire Anschutz and has a first-look deal with Paramount. It's in pre-production with Par on "Sahara," with Matthew McConaughey toplining and Breck Eisner attached to direct, and on soccer drama "The Game of Their Lives."

Crusader is currently lensing "Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Story," starring Jamie Foxx, and is in-post-production on "A Sound of Thunder," to be released domestically by Warner Bros.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Impossible. The story requires at least a 12-hour miniseries, but even that seems difficult.

That said, what are your casting suggestions? (Sadly, there are so few actors who deserve to be associated with such a work.)

[laredo44]

This movie has been promised for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, it's never been delivered.

In some ways, Atlas Shrugged is reminiscent of the Twilight Zone episode call "Monsters on Maple Street." In it, neighbors discover their amicable veneer disappears when inexplicable circumstances arrive. Ultimately, the neighborhood descends into chaos. This is also the fate of the collectivists in Rand's novel.

[WFTR]

I hope that the movie will show just how much the Jim Taggarts and Wesley Mouches sounded like the Clintons and their cronies. As I read this book for the first time in the mid-90's, it seemed to me like some prophetic parody on the Clinton administration and those who support it. In my mind, Lilian Rearden looked somewhat like Hillary Clinton. I hope they'll portray her with someone with a similar appearance.

The guy that I always thought looked like Ayn Rand's description of John Galt was that Australian guy who played on Baywatch in the early and mid 90's. I realize that any role on Baywatch doesn't seem to be a good entry into Atlas Shrugged, but I think he has the look that Ayn Rand described. Otherwise, I can't immediately think of anyone to play the major parts.

In the years since I first read it, I've become less enamored with Ayn Rand's ideas and writing. I've often said that she's right about much of what's wrong, but she's wrong about much of what's right. Still, a movie that faithfully captures this book would be a significant accomplishment.

Saving a few more jobs
Bill

[jocon307]

"The story requires at least a 12-hour miniseries..."

Although I have never read this novel, I know the first step is cutting the long,soapbox, speech.

Other than that, it sounds like the guy who bought the script "gets it". Plus, this novel has many, many devoted fans. Maybe they could do a two or three part movie series, a la The Lord of the Rings.

[Phsstpok]

Impossible. The story requires at least a 12-hour miniseries, but even that seems difficult.

they do reference a mini-series (the bean stalk one) that the screen writer has done. Maybe they see it that way as well. Long form television, ala "From the Earth to the Moon" and SciFi's "Dune" and "Children of Dune" have proved quite successful economically. You wonder who they'd get to do it though. All of the big cable entertainment outlets are firmly locked up by the left. I guess they could try to spin this to make the Clinton's the good guys. I got it. It's a cautionary tale about how Bush is going to drive all of the creative people (read Hollywood types) away. Yeah, that's it. HBO will be all over this.

[lelio]

Long form television
IIRC, Rand herself said that she liked the small screen as people could take in the show in the comfort of their own individual homes.
Surprised the article didn't mention the movie Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life which was quite good. Don't think I laughed so hard when a picture of her as an extra on The King of Kings.
I like the idea of an "Earth to the Moon" type series. Hopefully HBO would do it as their production value is miles ahead of anything the networks do.

[maxwell]

Plus, this novel has many, many devoted fans. Maybe they could do a two or three part movie series, a la The Lord of the Rings.

Huh. Now, seriously, will this story have as much mass appeal as LOTR? I think their best shot is to cram it all into four or five hours (a la Lawrence of Arabia) if they want to turn any sort of profit or public interest...

I tried to read the durn thing a couple times but kept falling asleep at the title page. Bwahaha. I'd go see the movie, though, since I do have some vague sense of appreciation for Rand's sociopoliticoeconomic influence...

[Soren]

Pure hollywood picks:

Hank Reardon - Russell Crowe
Dagny - Nicole Kidman
Franciso - Antonio Banderas
Hugh Akston - Liam Neeson
Mooch - John Malkovich
John Galt - Tim Robbins

[ffusco]

Not bad.

[SJSAMPLE]

Do we really need a movie?
If Hollywood gets its grimy, bloodied hands on Atlas Shrugged, they have the potential to destroy it in the eyes of the MILLIONS of Americans who haven't read it or know nothing of it. I'm content to ready the book, again.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[ImpotentRage]

How very much I agree with you. I do not trust anyone in Hollywood doing justice to Atlas Shrugged. The true message of the book would "cut too close to the bone" and I don't think the powers that be would like the obvious comparisons. I truly think Rand was prophetic and there are many, many times when I feel as if I were living in Atlas Shrugged. Who is John Galt?

[Gothmog]

Tim Robbins as Galt? Are you high?

[chudogg]

lol! that was the first thing i thought when i read that

[Soren]

Yeah, I know that was the weakest one. His politics are the polar opposite. He probably wouldn't even accept the role. I was thinking of him in the Shawshank Redemption and how that character had a kind of quiet, mysterious inner strength that I associate with Galt.

[lelio]

For Wesley Mooch I liked the Proposition Joe (played by Robert or Raymond Chew) character from HBO's The Wire. Swarmy, he just oozed sleeze and the personality of someone that handed out graft.
Course I could be mixing up Mooch with someone else, its been years since I read the book.

[kcordell]

I do not trust anyone in Hollywood doing justice to Atlas Shrugged.

I'll go along with that. It's bad enough that they try to rewrite actual history. I would rather see this as 'required reading' for every American student.

[rwfromkansas]

"I've often said that she's right about much of what's wrong, but she's wrong about much of what's right."

Good way of putting it. As much as I don't want to have anythign in common with Rand, I do agree with a lot of what she says is wrong, but disagree with a lot of her supposed solutions (the self-exalted god complex she seems to espouse is somewhat blasphemous so I refuse her excessive individualism).

[WFTR]

I agree about the self-exalted god complex that she seems to have. I read her introduction to one of her books, and she started talking about God. Her hatred of God and all things related to Christianity was amazing. Despite all of her high talk about being rational, she became completely irrational and fanatic in her anger at God and those who believe in Him.

WFTR
Bill