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Atlas Shrugged Part 1, The 5 Million Dollar Epic

  • 14-06-2010 06:48PM
    #1
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 15,814 ✭✭✭✭


    Anyone familiar with the novel Atlas Shrugged will no doubt realise that to bring such an epic tale to the screen is going to cost a hell of a lot of money aswell as a competent director who knows what he's doing. unfortunately things aren't looking good for the film adaptation which hasn't so much been rushed into production as thrown head first into the fire.

    The film went into production at the end of last week, otherwise the rights to make the film would have been lost and given the rush to get the damned thing made no other than the great Paul Johansson star and director of 12 episodes of One Tree Hill (safes hands I'm sure) has been hired as both star and director.

    For a project which once had Brad Pitt set to star alongside Angelina Jolie things have certainly changed, expect the finished film to appear on the Sci Fi channel.

    From slashfilm
    Atlas is finally shrugging towards theater screens. A few weeks ago we told you that producer John Aglialoro was going to get a feature version of Ayn Rand’s novel together come hell or high water. And, indeed, cameras started to roll on Atlas Shrugged Part One over the weekend. Who are the star and director? Same guy: Paul Johansson, of the TV show One Tree Hill.

    When last we reported on this, Stephen Polk, son of former MGM chairman Louis Polk, was set to direct. At some point in the past couple weeks Johansson came on board. He has directed a few things in the past, most notably a dozen episodes of his show. And if he wanted a feature career, he’s found one of the more uniquely Hollywood ways to jumpstart one: agree to direct a last-minute production of a massive novel for a producer who has to start shooting NOW or else lose the rights he spent a million bucks on almost twenty years ago. Variety reports that Aglialoro would have lost the rights if the film didn’t go into production by Saturday.

    Read more: Atlas Shrugged is Filming; One Tree Hill’s Paul Johansson Starring and Directing | /Film http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/06/14/atlas-shrugged-is-filming-one-tree-hills-paul-johansson-starring-and-directing/#ixzz0qqo1QWdh

    Five weeks of shooting are scheduled for the $5m production. (Yeah, that’s right — $5m to film even a chunk of the massive novel? Alright…) The production is still based on a script that Aglialoro wrote with Brian Patrick O’Toole. As this film is labeled ‘part one,’ we can expect at least a part two — Aglialoro says that will shoot after this one is complete. (So, in seven weeks or so?)

    Johansson plays John Galt, while the Dagny Taggart role went to Taylor Schilling from Mercy, and Henry Reardon is played by Grant Bowler from Ugly Betty and Lost. Also in the cast are Edi Gathegi, Jsu Garcia, Rebecca Wisocky, Ethan Cohn, Patrick Fischer, Neill Barry, Christina Pickles and Nikki Klecha.

    Read more: Atlas Shrugged is Filming; One Tree Hill’s Paul Johansson Starring and Directing | /Film http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/06/14/atlas-shrugged-is-filming-one-tree-hills-paul-johansson-starring-and-directing/#ixzz0qqo89p7i


Comments

  • #2
    Valmont
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,857 ✭✭✭Valmont


    As a fan of the novel I don't like the look of this at all! I was hoping for a more Watchmen-esque production.


  • #3
    bnt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,160 ✭✭✭✭bnt


    In another thread I was concerned about trying to fit the whole thing in to one movie, and suggested a mini series: I couldn't see any major studio funding a Lord Of The Rings-style 3-parter.

    Slight spoiler for those who haven't read the book:
    the character of John Galt makes only a few short cameo appearances in the first two parts, so Johansson won't have to do much but direct until he gets to Part III.

    I wonder if they could get Neil Peart to play Hugh Akston? Fans of the band Rush will understand what I mean ... ;)

    You are the type of what the age is searching for, and what it is afraid it has found. I am so glad that you have never done anything, never carved a statue, or painted a picture, or produced anything outside of yourself! Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days are your sonnets.

    ―Oscar Wilde predicting Social Media, in The Picture of Dorian Gray



  • #4
    norrie rugger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,656 ✭✭✭norrie rugger


    Valmont wrote: »
    As a fan of the novel I don't like the look of this at all! I was hoping for a more Watchmen-esque production.

    As a non fan I could think of nothing worse

    direct adaptions are boring and cater to a minority audience


  • #5
    LittleBook
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,716 ✭✭✭LittleBook


    a last-minute production of a massive novel for a producer who has to start shooting NOW or else lose the rights he spent a million bucks on almost twenty years ago.

    Smacks a bit of a faux production thrown together for the sole reason of retaining the rights. Let's hope they have the real production somewhere up their sleeves.


  • #6
    norrie rugger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,656 ✭✭✭norrie rugger


    LittleBook wrote: »
    Smacks a bit of a faux production thrown together for the sole reason of retaining the rights. Let's hope they have the real production somewhere up their sleeves.

    So they just have to "Begin" production?


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  • #7
    LittleBook
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,716 ✭✭✭LittleBook


    norrie rugger wrote: »
    So they just have to "Begin" production?

    Just based on the article it seems to be a condition to keeping the rights that there was an expiry date/deadline for starting production. I could be clutching at straws here but $5m (in this context) to someone who's been hoping for 20 years to get the film made could be a drop in the ocean and people have done stranger things to keep a beloved dream alive.

    OR they could actually be going for a $5m indie production.

    It's hard to say but producing an adaptation of "Atlas Shrugged" in 5 weeks on a budget of $5m ...? :eek:


  • #8
    Brimmy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,536 ✭✭✭Brimmy


    One Tree Hill is a guilty pleasure of mine and Johansson is actually pretty decent behind the camera in the few episodes he has directed, there's usually some nice angles, cuts and transmissions and the episodes he's behind tend to be the better and more aesthetically pleasing on the show.

    That being said this completely reeks of a last minute production solely to hold onto the rights until something bigger and more mainstream can be made like the 90's Fantastic Four. I hope it's good though. I'll give at least the first part a watch out of curiosity.


  • #9
    bnt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,160 ✭✭✭✭bnt


    Update: principal photography wrapped on the 20th, they say. There's more detail here too. Both articles mention the possibility that this production is an "ashcan" film - made to secure rights but never released, like the 1994 Fantastic Four movie.

    You are the type of what the age is searching for, and what it is afraid it has found. I am so glad that you have never done anything, never carved a statue, or painted a picture, or produced anything outside of yourself! Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days are your sonnets.

    ―Oscar Wilde predicting Social Media, in The Picture of Dorian Gray



  • #10
    Skerries
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,945 ✭✭✭✭Skerries


    wouldn't you just love to see that Fantastic Four film though :)
    Untitled Image




  • #11
    norrie rugger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,656 ✭✭✭norrie rugger


    Skerries wrote: »
    wouldn't you just love to see that Fantastic Four film though :)

    Probably better than what followed (except for Jessica Alba in her undies)


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  • #12
    McLoughlin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭McLoughlin


    Skerries wrote: »
    wouldn't you just love to see that Fantastic Four film though :)

    You can its unofficially available on DVD for years and its really awful ... really really awful.


  • #13
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,538 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    Not read the book, but i can't see this working.


  • #14
    bnt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,160 ✭✭✭✭bnt


    A report from the set:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooOfe_-5TlY

    You are the type of what the age is searching for, and what it is afraid it has found. I am so glad that you have never done anything, never carved a statue, or painted a picture, or produced anything outside of yourself! Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days are your sonnets.

    ―Oscar Wilde predicting Social Media, in The Picture of Dorian Gray



  • #15
    bnt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,160 ✭✭✭✭bnt


    The film was released last Friday, which was (uncoincidentally) Income Tax day in the USA. The reviews have not been kind, though it seems to me that they're reviewing the book and the philosophy more than the movie.

    I'm still divided on whether the movie was a good idea or not, instead of a TV series. The book is longer than The Lord of the Rings, and I remember the complaints about what had to be left out of those movies. But then I think that the movies could act as a "primer" and encourage people to go and read the book. I'm still amazed by how many people seem to have read only part of it, or are getting their opinions second-hand.

    You are the type of what the age is searching for, and what it is afraid it has found. I am so glad that you have never done anything, never carved a statue, or painted a picture, or produced anything outside of yourself! Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days are your sonnets.

    ―Oscar Wilde predicting Social Media, in The Picture of Dorian Gray



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