Dune’s Director Is Adapting Another Classic Sci-Fi Novel
After ending 2021 with the highly praised and commercially successful Dune starring Timothee Chalamet, Denis Villeneuve is all set to adapt yet another classic sci-fi novel for the big screen.
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After ending 2021 with the highly praised and commercially successful Dune starring Timothee Chalamet, Denis Villeneuve is all set to adapt yet another classic sci-fi novel for the big screen. It has been reported that the renowned director has been roped in to direct the live-action cinematic adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s celebrated novel Rendezvous With Rama that was published back in 1973.
The adaptation plans for Rendezvous With Rama have been stuck in development hell for years. Initially, in the early 2000s, actor Morgan Freeman shared that he wished to turn the bestselling novel into a film. But his plans faced numerous hurdles– funding issues, the lack of a proper script, etc. Originally, it was David Fincher who was attached to helm the project and till 2011, he continued confirming that he is still going to direct the film. But now, as reported by Deadline, Alcon Entertainment has acquired the film rights to the novel and the Dune director has been appointed to helm it.
This will be Villeneuve’s second novel adaptation after Dune, which was based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. Rendezvous With Rama is another classic masterpiece and has been penned by Arthur C. Clarke. The story is set up in the 2130s, where a group of human explorers intercepts a 31 by 12-mile cylindrical alien starship that enters the Solar System. What starts as an attempt fueled by curiosity to explore the alien technology ends up with them making rather shocking discoveries.
The adaptation will be financed by Alcon, along with Morgan Freeman who will produce the film alongside Lori McCreary under Revelations Entertainment. In addition, Alcon co-CEOS Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove have signed on to produce. This will be Alcon Entertainment’s third collaboration with the Dune director. Previously, the production company has financed and produced 2013’s Prisoners as well as 2017’s Blade Runner 2049.
Obviously, there are high expectations from the cinematic adaptation of Rendezvous With Rama as Villeneuve’s Dune has proven to be a big success for Warner Bros. After David Lynch’s disappointing adaptation of the novel in 1984, its story was deemed too complicated to be adapted for the big screen. But Villeneuve proved everyone wrong with his visual spectacle that has grossed over $390 million worldwide on a production budget of $165 million, in addition to unknown earnings for HBO Max on streaming.
Dune has garnered majorly positive reviews from critics who have raved about the cast performances, the grand visual setup, and Villeneuve’s exceptional storytelling skills. In fact, Warner Bros. greenlit a sequel to the film less than a week after Dune’s release in theatres, something Giant Freakin Robot had exclusively reported days before the film’s theatrical debut. At the end of Dune Part One, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) and Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) manage to escape and reach the deep desert where the latter joins the Fremen to fulfill his father’s dream of making Arrakis peaceful again.
Given that Dune Part One adapted only half of the first novel in the series, the sequel will depict the other half, which sees Paul rising up within the ranks of the Fremen and aiding the rebellion against Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV. And oh, riding a sandstorm like a total badass!
