Asimov’s “Foundation”Coming to the Big Screen
Warner Bros. Pictures will be adaptaing Isaac Asimov’s futuristic sci-fi epic “Foundation.” The feature film will be produced by Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne through Unique Features.
“Foundation” is based on Asimov’s “Foundation Trilogy,” which centers on a society that has figured out how to predict the future based on a method called psychohistory and sets up a foundation devoted to scientific research to protect itself and ensure its survival.
The goal is to adapt the first book with an eye to turning it into a trilogy of films.
That is soooo not gonna work as a movie.
I gotta agree with Bob - this series will not translate well as a movie. Unfortunately, can you say, “Battlefield Earth”?
I agree. I can’t see a series that spans thousands of years really translating to the screen all that well. If they want to do Asimov, I recommend the R. Daneel Olivaw stories as the place to start. Those, as I recall, were straight forward, self contained and would translate to the big screen far more easily.
I really liked these books, but I don’t really recall them being very “visually” exciting. Lots of thought provoking ideas, maybe, but not a lot of running around b lowing things up. Of course, it’s been a long time since I last read them. Another Asimov series they could try could be the Lucky Star series. It would be for kids, of course, and they’d have to be updated for all the newly discovered science facts that have come and gone since they where written, but I liked them as a child.
Come on maybe they’ll get Will Smith and put in lots of explosions.
Yes, Will Smith and explosions. That’s exactly what they will do. Wich is the same as saying it “will not translate well as a movie”.
I agree with DJ in that the books are filled with lots of action IE TFS is more cerebral in nature. Oh and to correct Omni, The Foundation novels only cover about 500 years.
It should be interesting to see how this plays but I’ve always said that even if the adaptation isn’t good, it doesn’t ruin the original in anyway shape or form. Though I have to agree, lets hope this isn’t another I Robot.
[...] Asimov’s “Foundationâ€Coming to the Big Screen - Slice of SciFi I can’t imagine this working as a movie (tags: scifi movies) [...]
I agree the chances of success for this seem slim but its better to see “them” trying and fail than to listen to the same voices whining about lack studios attempting something a bit more substantial. Same thing applies to the upcoming The Day the Earth Stood Still with Keanu - not a promising start but at least an attempt is being made. Give ‘em a go guys - when they are made at least we will have something to complain about….. or not hopefully. Keep watching the skies !
Lets hope it is not another Nightfall!!!!
I think this would need to be done VERY carefully to work. Perhaps a single movie about Daneel the Robot creating the zeroth law, and the demise of Earth.
And each of the other movies single pivotal times in the future, that elude to his work in the background.
I have big doubts that this would be done well.
My maths teacher recommended Foundation to me when I was 14. That was the first time I read it. The last time may have been 20 years ago. Coincidently I was packing books into boxes to go to storage last weekend and I found my Foundation books and decided to read them again. Now this new project. Woohoo. It can be visually exciting - I still remember the descriptions of “Trantor” for example.
At least it won’t be a bloody remake. If worst comes to worst it would make great anime.
My guess is that this attempt will be an abject failure, but that it will open the door. Eventually, several years down the road a Peter Jackson will come along and do it right.
A dificult challenge to make a movie of this book, more fitted for a series, I think.
Anyway, speaking of trantor, perhaps Coruscant (star wars) was inspired in this planet size city.
”Perhaps a single movie about Daneel the Robot creating the zeroth law, and the demise of Earth.
And each of the other movies single pivotal times in the future, that elude to his work in the background.” Good idea.
But it could work in other way too. All movies would be Daneels memories. It could start with the end - with him in moon base remembering his life.