I have higher hopes for director Richard Linklater's film version of A Scanner Darkly (I never read it) though. I just saw the second trailer for the film on the official website and it looks like it could be a great film. The look of the film is very unique. The fact that Linklater also wrote the screenplay is a plus. Not only is he a fine director but his writing skills are not too shabby either. If you watch the drama Before Sunrise or the comedy Dazed and Confused, you'll notice that he is comfy wearing both hats in two very different genres. "Darkly" is his first foray into science fiction and as I say, things look really good.
With this film, Philip K. Dick is now "the most adapted SF author in the history of film", according to the late writer's website. The film is set for release on July 7th 2006.
Read more about the film here.
On a similar subject:
Variety's Pamela McClintock reports that 'Sparrow' in Warners nest. The article says that the studio has acquired the rights to sci-fi book "The Sparrow" for Brad Pitt's Plan B and Industry Entertainment to produce. Pitt has [had] a longtime interest in the project, a potential starring vehicle for him.
Scribe Michael Seitzman ("North Country") is adapting Mary Doria Russell's debut novel of the same name. Project was originally set up at Universal, but Warners picked up the rights to the book after [they] let them lapse.
[The] [s]tory revolves around a Jesuit priest who accompanies a crew of space travelers to a distant planet after Earth receives its first communication from an alien culture. The clergyman and crew befriend one of the planet's two races, unwittingly provoking a bloody war and shaking the foundations of the priest's faith.
If Pitt does indeed star in the film, it may be awhile before the movie hits theaters, as his project plate seems pretty full at the moment.
Pitt's schedule also remains in flux. Upcoming projects include "Benjamin Button" for Warner and Paramount and Warner's "Ocean's Thirteen" from producer Jerry Weintraub, although the thesp has not committed to the latter.
Sci-fi and religion don't always make the best combination...see Signs and Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and you'll understand what I mean. While I have not read Sparrow--the film has potential
Finally, the Britain publication The Independent has some advice for this year's OSCAR nominees on how to except an award. Andrew Gumbel's article is a lot fun. I just hope the winners take the advice for Sunday's telecast...so that the usually very long show will end some time before Monday afternoon.
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