Sci-Fi Books That Need to Become Movies
06-26-03, 01:29 PM
#1
Sci-Fi Books That Need to Become Movies
Is this a Book Talk question or a Movie Talk question? Hmm. Well, we'll go with Movie Talk for now...
Not all great sci-fi works need to be made into movies. Dune sucked, IMO. (And don't whine to me about the friggin' director's cut!) There is no need to make a movie based on Asimov's Foundation trilogy. And a lot of stuff by David Brin or Ben Bova is (again, IMO) too literary to make the leap to Hollywood.
A sci-fi book I would love to see become a movie: Liege-Killer by Christopher Hinz. Just a great book, great action, extremely visual, keep you guessing, great characters... man, the movie would absolutely rock! I am psyched just thinking about it.
Anyway, what are some other sci-fi books that are just screaming out to be made into big Hollywood movies?
Not all great sci-fi works need to be made into movies. Dune sucked, IMO. (And don't whine to me about the friggin' director's cut!) There is no need to make a movie based on Asimov's Foundation trilogy. And a lot of stuff by David Brin or Ben Bova is (again, IMO) too literary to make the leap to Hollywood.
A sci-fi book I would love to see become a movie: Liege-Killer by Christopher Hinz. Just a great book, great action, extremely visual, keep you guessing, great characters... man, the movie would absolutely rock! I am psyched just thinking about it.
Anyway, what are some other sci-fi books that are just screaming out to be made into big Hollywood movies?
06-26-03, 01:43 PM
#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sitting on a beach, earning 20%
Posts: 9,917
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
None
Of
Them.
Leave books as books, films as films. The amount of time a film has succeeded its literary source can be counted on hands.
But if we had to go with it, a decent adaptation of I Am Legend by Richard Matheson would rock the house. Until that is a reality - and shut up all you "Omega Fans", and the five of you that saw "Last Man On Earth" - I'll just have to stick with 28 Days Later.
Of
Them.
Leave books as books, films as films. The amount of time a film has succeeded its literary source can be counted on hands.
But if we had to go with it, a decent adaptation of I Am Legend by Richard Matheson would rock the house. Until that is a reality - and shut up all you "Omega Fans", and the five of you that saw "Last Man On Earth" - I'll just have to stick with 28 Days Later.
06-26-03, 03:37 PM
#3
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess I don’t see adaptations of sci-fi novels as any more or less likely to succeed as any other genre. Many of my favorite movies in all genres are adaptations. Like many things, it’s not the concept that’s flawed; rather, the execution.
Some I would like to see….
Rendezvous With Rama (rumored)
The End of Eternity
Enders Game (rumored)
Foundation (rumored)
Snow Crash
Idoru
White Plague
Some I would like to see….
Rendezvous With Rama (rumored)
The End of Eternity
Enders Game (rumored)
Foundation (rumored)
Snow Crash
Idoru
White Plague
Last edited by audrey; 06-26-03 at 04:02 PM.
06-26-03, 04:24 PM
#4
Needs to provide a working email
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Formerly known as Darrin Garrison
Posts: 3,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd like to see a faithful version of the entire Hyperion Cantos. It would have to be a mini-series, though. Might work better as anime than as live-action.
06-26-03, 04:40 PM
#5
DVD Talk Hero
I'll second the Hyperion Cantos. Preferably all four books as multi-part miniseries. But it would be a specila effects nightmare ... it would be near-impossible to the Shrike justice.
I would also love to a see a decent "Neuromancer" movie, but Gibson has so far proven well-nigh impossible to translate to the screen. They're gonna need a director with a hell of a vision, and an art director to match.
I would also love to a see a decent "Neuromancer" movie, but Gibson has so far proven well-nigh impossible to translate to the screen. They're gonna need a director with a hell of a vision, and an art director to match.
06-26-03, 04:55 PM
#7
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by DonnachaOne
None
Of
Them.
Leave books as books, films as films. The amount of time a film has succeeded its literary source can be counted on hands.
But if we had to go with it, a decent adaptation of I Am Legend by Richard Matheson would rock the house. Until that is a reality - and shut up all you "Omega Fans", and the five of you that saw "Last Man On Earth" - I'll just have to stick with 28 Days Later.
None
Of
Them.
Leave books as books, films as films. The amount of time a film has succeeded its literary source can be counted on hands.
But if we had to go with it, a decent adaptation of I Am Legend by Richard Matheson would rock the house. Until that is a reality - and shut up all you "Omega Fans", and the five of you that saw "Last Man On Earth" - I'll just have to stick with 28 Days Later.
I hope Stranger in a Strange Land is never made into a movie, unless it's a really good one.
stoolie
06-26-03, 08:14 PM
#8
Originally posted by Darren Garrison
I'd like to see a faithful version of the entire Hyperion Cantos. It would have to be a mini-series, though. Might work better as anime than as live-action.
I'd like to see a faithful version of the entire Hyperion Cantos. It would have to be a mini-series, though. Might work better as anime than as live-action.
06-26-03, 08:18 PM
#9
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Where the sky is always Carolina Blue! (Currently VA - again...)
Posts: 5,167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wouldn't mind a Showtime or HBO mini(maxi?)series of Niven and Pournelle and Barnes's "Legacy of Heorot" -- possibly followed up by "Beowulf's Children"
That or "The Mote in God's Eye" or "Footfall."
That or "The Mote in God's Eye" or "Footfall."
06-26-03, 09:32 PM
#10
Suspended
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie is in production and will be coming out by Thanksgiving of 2005. Here is the link:
http://www.countingdown.com/movies/1...tem_id=3034932
http://www.countingdown.com/movies/1...tem_id=3034932
06-26-03, 11:01 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 923
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, something like Niven and Pournelle's "Lucifer's Hammer" or "Footfall" would be really good... any of their books would be good, actually, because they are very visual, except perhaps the "Man-Kzin Wars" series.
There was word of Martin Caidin's "Exit Earth" being turned into a movie. Or how about Greg Bear's "The Forge of God" and its sequel, "The Anvil of Stars"? All these catastrophic movies would do nicely, providing they're not turned into other "Armaggeddon" or "The Core"...
There was word of Martin Caidin's "Exit Earth" being turned into a movie. Or how about Greg Bear's "The Forge of God" and its sequel, "The Anvil of Stars"? All these catastrophic movies would do nicely, providing they're not turned into other "Armaggeddon" or "The Core"...
06-27-03, 12:51 AM
#15
DVD Talk Hero - 2023 TOTY Award Winner
Originally posted by Playitagainsam
Well, something like Niven and Pournelle's "Lucifer's Hammer" or "Footfall" would be really good... any of their books would be good, actually, because they are very visual, except perhaps the "Man-Kzin Wars" series.
Well, something like Niven and Pournelle's "Lucifer's Hammer" or "Footfall" would be really good... any of their books would be good, actually, because they are very visual, except perhaps the "Man-Kzin Wars" series.
While not sci-fi per se, I am hoping that Terry Gilliam does eventually succeed in getting Pratchett and Gaiman's Good Omens made.
06-27-03, 04:49 AM
#16
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 3,291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Playitagainsam
Or how about Greg Bear's "The Forge of God" and its sequel, "The Anvil of Stars"? All these catastrophic movies would do nicely, providing they're not turned into other "Armaggeddon" or "The Core"...
Or how about Greg Bear's "The Forge of God" and its sequel, "The Anvil of Stars"? All these catastrophic movies would do nicely, providing they're not turned into other "Armaggeddon" or "The Core"...
Warner Brothers has just negotiated a potential three-picture deal for THE FORGE OF GOD, ANVIL OF STARS, and an as-yet unnamed and unwritten third novel set in the same timeline.
Screenwriter Ken Nolan ("Blackhawk Down") prepared a 70-page extended treatment, called by some a "scripment," of The Forge of God while working with Vince Gerardis of Created By, a Los Angeles management/production company that specializes in science fiction. Warner is commissioning two screenplays, with provisions for a third.
Richard Curtis Literary Associates sold the original novels to Tor and Warner Publishing and will negotiate any publishing deals for the third novel.
The deal is excellent, the "scripment" by Ken Nolan is extraordinary and very faithful to the novel, and Warner Bros.' enthusiasm and commitment to the project is exemplary. The deal was made at the behest of and with the total involvement of the highest management at Warner Bros., and was completed within one day of negotiation. Warner Bros. has expressed a desire to have all the elements in place to begin production as soon as possible. A director is not yet attached, but may be soon.
The goal of this project is ultimately to create a monumental, hard-sf motion picture trilogy, dealing with interstellar crime and punishment, completing the themes developed in The Forge of God (Tor 1987) and Anvil of Stars (Warner Books, 1992).
06-27-03, 06:04 AM
#18
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: The War Room
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Forever War is an excellent idea. (Several of Joe's books, Forever Peace, All My Sins Remembered and maybe the Worlds books, would be cool.)
Among Greg Bear's books, I'd sort of prefer to see Eon and Eternity, myself.
There were once rumors about James Cameron doing Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy. If done correctly, those might set a new landmark.
Among Greg Bear's books, I'd sort of prefer to see Eon and Eternity, myself.
There were once rumors about James Cameron doing Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy. If done correctly, those might set a new landmark.
06-27-03, 09:07 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 923
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Excellent news...
However, I'd like to see more classic SF books turned into decent movies. I'd love to see a nice adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End" or "The Songs of Distant Earth", a couple of A.E. van Vogt ("Space Beagle" and "The War Against The Rull" come to mind first)... was John Brunner's "Stand on Zanzibar" ever turned into a movie?
Among newer writers, Norman Spinrad's "Bug Jack Barron" and "Little Heroes" would be excellent choices. Or "Worlds Apart". And how about Gerard Klein's "Les Seigneurs de la Guerre" (sorry I have no idea what the English translation was), or Serge Brussolo's work?
However, I'd like to see more classic SF books turned into decent movies. I'd love to see a nice adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End" or "The Songs of Distant Earth", a couple of A.E. van Vogt ("Space Beagle" and "The War Against The Rull" come to mind first)... was John Brunner's "Stand on Zanzibar" ever turned into a movie?
Among newer writers, Norman Spinrad's "Bug Jack Barron" and "Little Heroes" would be excellent choices. Or "Worlds Apart". And how about Gerard Klein's "Les Seigneurs de la Guerre" (sorry I have no idea what the English translation was), or Serge Brussolo's work?
Last edited by Playitagainsam; 06-27-03 at 09:10 AM.
06-27-03, 10:25 AM
#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I second Xenogenesis. And the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold.
06-27-03, 10:49 AM
#23
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I want:
White Mountains
City of Gold & Lead
Pool of Fire
Great stories that I have reread several times.
There was a British TV adaption called Tripods that was never finished. They were all turned into comics for Boys Life magazine back in the 80s.
White Mountains
City of Gold & Lead
Pool of Fire
Great stories that I have reread several times.
There was a British TV adaption called Tripods that was never finished. They were all turned into comics for Boys Life magazine back in the 80s.
06-27-03, 11:02 AM
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by resinrats
I want:
White Mountains
City of Gold & Lead
Pool of Fire
Great stories that I have reread several times.
There was a British TV adaption called Tripods that was never finished. They were all turned into comics for Boys Life magazine back in the 80s.
I want:
White Mountains
City of Gold & Lead
Pool of Fire
Great stories that I have reread several times.
There was a British TV adaption called Tripods that was never finished. They were all turned into comics for Boys Life magazine back in the 80s.
I really enjoyed those stories, but it seemed like there was just a smidge of a story in each issue and I had to wait forever for the next one. I've always wanted to pick them up.