"Atlas" Movie One Step Closer! THE INSIDE SCOOP.

[Ed Hudgins]

Everyone's discussing this on other sites so let's bring it into the Objectivist Living Room! By the way, the phones at Lionsgate apparently are ringing off the hook because of this story. A very good sign! -- Ed Hudgins

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April 27, 2006 -- The effort to film Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged has just taken a big step forward. Daily Variety reports a leaked story that Lionsgate, the independent studio whose movie "Crash" recently won the Oscar for best picture, will be distributing the film.

We've confirmed today that a deal is going forward under which Lionsgate will take an option to finance and distribute the film. The executive producers are John Aglialoro, a Trustee of The Atlas Society and The Objectivist Center, and Howard Baldwin, whose movie "Ray" won an Oscar for best actor (Jamie Foxx). Lionsgate will put around $35 million into the film.

The film will be based on a script of the first part of the novel, written by Jim V. Hart and reviewed by David Kelley, founder of The Atlas Society-The Objectivist Center. Hart also penned the script for the film "Contact," based on the novel by astronomer Carl Sagan. It is anticipated "Atlas" will be a multi-part film.

So far no actors have been cast; that will be done by the director, once one is chosen, in conjunction with the executive producers and Lionsgate.

Variety also reports that stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are interested in parts in the film. This will come as no surprise to subscribers of The New Individualist. The current issue features the two on the cover, and in an article by the publication's editor, Robert Bidinotto, which looks at the interest in Rand's works among Hollywood's elite.

We will keep you apprised of further developments.

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Ed,

Thank you so much for your consideration. Barbara Branden started a thread here on OL about the movie version of Atlas Shrugged called "Atlas Shrugged to be a movie?!"

In the thread I provided links and quotes to the TOC site announcement and to Robert Bidinotto's blog.

This is really exciting news. I am particularly pleased that they are going to do this in installments and that TOC is involved on the level of consultant (David Kelley) and co-executive producer (John Aglialoro, TOC Board member).

Michael

[SaulOhio]

This is really exciting news. I am particularly pleased that they are going to do this in installments and that TOC is involved on the level of consultant (David Kelley) and co-executive producer (John Aglialoro, TOC Board member).

Michael

Leonard Peikoff must be throwing a fit.

[Kat]

Here is more really good movie news. The filmmakers will be at the Objectivist Center's Summer Seminar. Full story here.

Kat

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

I added this on another thread in the Movies section, but it deserves to be mentioned here, too.

Robert Bidinotto has announced that Randall Wallace ("Braveheart") has been signed on as scriptwriter. It is not certain whether James Hart is still in or is out. Here is the Variety link (for october 17, 2006):

Weighty gig for Wallace by Pamela McClintock

Michael