Ridley Scott to direct The Forever War

Posted on October 14, 2008
Filed Under Directors

Whenever I see the name Ridley Scott, I just know it’s news. Let’s face it – the guy IS quality. having a movie blog and not posting about what Mr Scott is planning would be… prosecutable? Today Variety reports that Fox 2000 has acquired rights to Joe Haldeman’s 1974 novel “The Forever War,” and Scott is planning to helm it. The book revolves around a soldier who battles an enemy in deep space for only a few months, only to return home to a planet he doesn’t recognize some 20 years later, Scott said.

This would be Ridley Scott’s first science fiction since he delivered classics with “Blade Runner” and “Alien.” Apparently Scott intended to follow those films with “The Forever War,” but rights complications delayed his plans for more than two decades.

“I first pursued ‘Forever War’ 25 years ago, and the book has only grown more timely and relevant since,” Scott says. “It’s a science-fiction epic, a bit of ‘The Odyssey’ by way of ‘Blade Runner,’ built upon a brilliant, disorienting premise.”

“The Forever War” rights were acquired right after publication by Richard Edlund who intended to make the book his directorial debut. The book became an iconic sci-fi title but Edlund, who won two Oscars — including one for visual effects on “Raiders of the Lost Ark” — never got the film off the ground. After a Sci Fi Channel miniseries stalled, Scott became interested again in “The Forever War” and Edlund was ready to make a deal. It took six months to secure all the rights.

So Ridley Scott is about to embark on a new sci-fi advernture. Looking at his earlier masterpieces this will surely be fantastic. I’ll let you know if I hear anything more about this movie project.

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