Atlas Shrugged (film)

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Current event marker This article or section contains information about one or more scheduled or expected films. The content may change as the film's release approaches and more information becomes available. Upcoming film
Atlas Shrugged
Directed by Not yet announced
Produced by John Aglialoro
Howard Baldwin
Karen Baldwin
Michael Burns
Written by Novel:
Ayn Rand
Screenplay:
Randall Wallace
Starring Angelina Jolie
Distributed by - USA -
Lions Gate Entertainment
Release date(s) 2008
Running time Not yet known
Country USA
Language English
Budget Not yet announced

Atlas Shrugged is a film in active development by Baldwin Entertainment Group and Lions Gate Entertainment. Based on Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel, a two-part draft screenplay written by James V. Hart is now being fully developed by writer-director Randall Wallace.

Angelina Jolie has been confirmed to play the role of Dagny Taggart, and Brad Pitt is rumored to be cast as John Galt. Both are fans of Rand's works. It is projected that Atlas Shrugged will be released as a trilogy, with staggered release-dates for each of the three films. Lions Gate Entertainment has picked up worldwide distribution rights. The first film is expected to be released in 2008. [1]

Contents

[edit] Plot

Differences between the novel's plot have not been announced. For a plot synopsis of the novel see Atlas Shrugged.

See also: Characters in Atlas Shrugged

[edit] Development history

Altas Shrugged has been in "development hell" for 35 years. In 1972, Albert S. Ruddy approached Ayn Rand to produce a cinematic adaptation of Atlas Shrugged. Rand insisted on having final script approval, to which Ruddy would not agree. Consequently the project was shelved.

Rand received other offers and in 1978 Henry and Michael Jaffe negotiated a deal for an eight-hour miniseries on NBC. Michael Jaffe hired screenwriter Sterling Silliphant to adapt the novel and he obtained approval from Rand on the final script. However, in 1979 with Fred Silverman’s rise as president of NBC, the project was scrapped.

Rand, a former Hollywood screenwriter herself, began writing her own screenplay but died in 1982 with only a third of it finished. She left her estate to her student Leonard Peikoff who sold an option to Michael Jaffe and Ed Snider. Peikoff would not approve the script and the deal fell through.

In 1992 investor and Objectivist John Aglialoro bought an option to produce the film paying Peikoff over $1 million for full creative control.

In 1999, under Aglialoro’s sponsorship, Albert Ruddy negotiated a deal with TNT for a four-hour miniseries but the project was killed after the AOL Time Warner merger. After the TNT deal fell through Howard and Karen Baldwin obtained the rights while running Phillip Anschutz's Crusader Entertainment. The Baldwins left Crusader and formed Baldwin Entertainment Group taking the rights to Atlas Shrugged with them. Michael Burns of Lions Gate approached the Baldwins to fund and distribute Atlas Shrugged. Baldwin Entertainment Group purchased the film rights in 2003.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Lionsgate shrugging. variety.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-21.

[edit] External links

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