# "Atlas Shrugged" - The Movie: Coming Soon! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036 "2003-05-13T20:07:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/1 "2003-05-13T20:07:34Z")
From today’s Hollywood Reporter: "Crusader maps ‘Atlas’ rights May 13, 2003 Crusader Entertainment has acquired the rights to Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel “Atlas Shrugged” and has hired writer James V. Hart to adapt. Rated in a recent Library of Congress survey as the “second most influential book for Americans today” after the Bible, “Atlas” follows one woman’s quest to solve the enigmatic question of “Who is John Galt?” – the man who said he would stop the motor of the world and did. The story is set in a near-future United States whose economy is collapsing because of the inexplicable disappearance of the country’s leading innovators and industrialists and the growth of arbitrary power on the part of its politicians." So Dopers, what do you think? Good idea to make it into a film? Who should be the lead? Who should direct? ---
**Author:** ![rmbnxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@rmbnxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rmbnxs)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/2 "2003-05-13T20:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DMark \* > **…So Dopers, what do you think?..** [Shrugs] > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DMark \* > **…Good idea to make it into a film?..** Yes–I love comedies. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DMark \* > **…Who should be the lead?..** Richard Simmons. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DMark \* > **…Who should direct?** John Woo. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/3 "2003-05-13T22:15:31Z")
Horrible idea. Unless . . . Nicholas Cage in the lead, or Crispin Glover; directed by Tim Burton or Paul Verhoeven. Or maybe Mary Harron. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/4 "2003-05-13T22:27:16Z")
At one time, Michael Cimino wanted to do a remake of _The Fountainhead_. Perhaps he’d be interested? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/5 "2003-05-13T22:29:30Z")
The adaptation of the book will in no way, shape or form resemble the actual plot of the book when it finally (if ever) hits the big white screen. Much like **Up Close And Personal** was supposed to have been based on the life of Jessica Savitch. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/6 "2003-05-13T22:45:39Z")
I know the sentiments runs about 20 to 1 against Rand on this board, but I liked all her books. If someone can make a decent movie, I say great. It’s probably better suited for a TV mini-series though. Unless Peter Jackson does it in 3 movies each 3 hrs long… John Galt: Keifer Sutherland (coming off _24_) Francisco: Antonio Banderas or Andy Gacia Dagny: Jodie Foster I’m sure plenty on this board would see the casting to be better off as: Vin Diesel, Cheech Marin, and Anna Nichol Smith. ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/7 "2003-05-13T23:11:40Z")
Let’s see how long before this thread is beset by a swarm of big-government toadies, totalitarian brutes, and I-know-what’s-best-for-you meddlers…by which I mean the people on this board who harbor their vitriolic hatred for Ayn Rand 😉 They’d never let a quality version of _Atlas Shrugged_ be made that kept true to the ideas of the novel, because the Hollywood left is filled to the brim with the sort of people who leech off the productive and talented, and with people who think if just the government ruled every facet of our lives (except for censoring Hollywood movies, of course) then the world would be a better place. For the same reason every sympathetic President in the movies is a Democrat and every evil President in the movies is a Republican, the smelly hippies-turned-yuppies sitting around in California will never put a version of _Atlas Shrugged_ to the reel without dredging it of it’s message. IIRC, _Liberty_ magazine did a story about this last year, and suggested that they turn it into sort of a romance mystery, and just plug in enough of the basic premise to get people thinking about libertarian ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/8 "2003-05-13T23:16:37Z")
Let Joel Schumacher direct and we’ll never have to be bothered by it again. ---
**Author:** ![ElJeffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ElJeffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElJeffe)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/9 "2003-05-13T23:24:28Z")
I loved the book (hell, I’ve greatly enjoyed all of Rand’s books), but I think the movie shalt suck mightily. Either that, or it will resemble the book only in passing. It’s just too mammoth a story to do in 3 hours or less. **John Mace** has the right idea with the mini-series approach, but most TV mini-series fail to capture the epic feel that a story like Atlas Shrugged needs. It needs to feel big and important. Look at _The Stand_ - should’ve been epic, but it felt tiny and neutered. If they cut out most of the fall of society, and cast that as the secondary backstory to the love triangle between Dagny, Galt, and Rearden, they could make a good movie. It wouldn’t be Atlas Shrugged, it would have no message of importance, and it would be painful for me to watch, but it could be a good movie. Of course, I’d love to be proved wrong. And when (if) it comes out, I’ll watch it. And afterwards, I’ll likely be sorry I did. Kinda like how I felt after watching Les Miserables. I think Fountainhead would make a much better movie. Jeff ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/10 "2003-05-13T23:25:56Z")
Ooooh! Will there be explosions and car chases? No? Never mind then. /movie going public ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/11 "2003-05-14T00:03:50Z")
Jeff: Did you see the movie _The Fountainhead_? It was pretty bad. Also, there was a film version of _We the Living_ done, IIRC, in Italy during or just prior to WWII as an anti-communist film. I saw it awhile back and can’t remember much about it. I really think Peter Jackson (with LoTR) set a new standard for doing justice to a book. Let’s hope _Atlas_ gets a similar treatment. No talking trees, mind you, but just keep the spirit of the book. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/12 "2003-05-14T00:08:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*Let Joel Schumacher direct and we’ll never have to be bothered by it again. \*\* Why does Joel Shumacher just seem perfect to me? Can I just say, not only is Rand a lousy writer, but I’ve recently decided she just cribbed her “philosophy” from De Sade. ---
**Author:** ![ElJeffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ElJeffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElJeffe)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/13 "2003-05-14T00:14:08Z")
John Mace: Hey, I didn’t even know there _was_ a movie version of _The Fountainhead_. Shame that it sucks, because it strikes me as a movie that could be done well, given the right people. Contrast with _Atlas_, which I don’t think could be done, short of a LOTR-style episodal treatment. _We The Living_ I’ve yet to read, though it’s on my to-do list. And I definitely agree with you about Peter Jackson. There’s a new yardstick in town, and it’s name is LOTR. Hmm… _Atlas_ with hobbits… Jeff ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/14 "2003-05-14T00:25:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElJeffe \* > \*\* > > Hmm… _Atlas_ with hobbits… > \*\* Surely somewhere in that monstrosity of a thread, in one of the tens of thousands of posts, _somebody_ must have done that. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/15 "2003-05-14T01:13:21Z")
Jeff: Check [this](http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?PID=1264425&frm=sh_yahoo) out for the movie. Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal (big, big stars). Supposedly all the female stars of the time were fighting over who would play Dominique. Read _We the Living_. It’s very good and you’ll even learn a bit of history as well. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/16 "2003-05-14T01:32:38Z")
For whatever it’s worth, it’s a LONG trip from buying the rights to making a movie. ---
**Author:** ![Goodbeem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/958977/32.png) [@Goodbeem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goodbeem)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/17 "2003-05-14T01:50:23Z")
> [@](#): > > **John Mace** > Dagny: Jodie Foster Nah, Dagny’s a brunette. So I’d vote for Famke Janssen. And does it have to be that long? I’d say you can do a lot with flashbacks and cutting back on the redundancy in philosophy. That, finding its simmit in Galts lengthy speech, made the book a horrible read for me. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/18 "2003-05-14T01:54:43Z")
The DVD might solve the Galt speech problem. You could do the whole movie with an edited 5 minute speech, then include 10 additional DVDs for those who wanted to hear the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Goodbeem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/958977/32.png) [@Goodbeem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goodbeem)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/19 "2003-05-14T02:05:56Z")
😃 My point exactly ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036/20 "2003-05-14T02:18:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Mace \* > \*\*The DVD might solve the Galt speech problem. You could do the whole movie with an edited 5 minute speech, then include 10 additional DVDs for those who wanted to hear the whole thing. \*\* It takes about as long to _read_ Galt’s speech as it did for Galt himself to read it aloud in the book, which is to say approximately 3 hours. So that’s only one extra DVD, and it still wouldn’t be as long as _Magnolia_. It wouldn’t be as good as _Magnolia_, in fact it would be just like having some actor read the book to you, but if you like that knock yourself out. Maybe if John Galt was played by James Earl Jones, or at least James Earl Jones’ voice. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged-the-movie-coming-soon/175036.md?page=2)