# The Next Big Science Fiction Movie Should Be... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692 "2016-01-20T18:37:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/81 "2016-01-27T17:45:35Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Because it involves someone flying a plane into a building.… Ah, thanks. I see. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Despite some naysayers, even on this Board, I’d like to see Harlan Ellison’s script of **I, Robot** filmed. The script manages to adapt Asimov’s book without being an anthology (it’s structured very much like _Citizen Kane_). It’s intelligent and literate and had Asimov’s own blessing. Since it was written (and first published) CGI filmmaking has come of age. You could do a helluva job with this. And, no, it would not be over the heads of the audience, or boring… Agreed. I like Asimov’s original short-story collection and the Ellison screenplay, and would be glad to see it filmed someday: [http://www.amazon.com/Robot-Illustrated-Screenplay-Harlan-Ellison/dp/1596870419/ref=sr\_1\_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453916893&sr=1-1&keywords=ellison+robot](http://www.amazon.com/Robot-Illustrated-Screenplay-Harlan-Ellison/dp/1596870419/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453916893&sr=1-1&keywords=ellison+robot) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/82 "2016-01-27T17:50:42Z")
Well if we’re gonna go down the route of “books that I’d plain ol’ love to see made into movies since there’s already a script”, I’d like to see someone finally use Phil Dick’s _Ubik_ screenplay. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/83 "2016-01-27T18:02:11Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Despite some naysayers, even on this Board, I’d like to see Harlan Ellison’s script of **I, Robot** filmed. The script manages to adapt Asimov’s book without being an anthology (it’s structured very much like _Citizen Kane_). It’s intelligent and literate and had Asimov’s own blessing. Since it was written (and first published) CGI filmmaking has come of age. You could do a helluva job with this. And, no, it would not be over the heads of the audience, or boring. > . There are other books set in that universe that might work better. And, IMHO, Harlan Ellison does not do good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/84 "2016-01-27T19:30:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Dont remember him? > > Yeas, it’d be easy, and attract non-Heinlein fans too. Love story, action-adventure, not much talking (they could cut off most of the end), etc. Whoops. Got it confused with an Alan Dean Foster novel named “Glory Lane”. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/85 "2016-01-27T20:27:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > There are other books set in that universe that might work better. And, IMHO, Harlan Ellison does not do good stuff. And IMHO, he often does. Cases in point – his Outer Limits episodes _Soldier_ and _Demon with a Glass Hand_. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/86 "2016-01-27T21:23:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > And IMHO, he often does. Cases in point – his Outer Limits episodes _Soldier_ and _Demon with a Glass Hand_. OK, granted. But still… ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/87 "2016-01-28T05:48:17Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > 3.) Alfred Bester’s _The Stars my Destination_. I think this one could be done, too. It has a KILLER opening, if nothing else, as Gully Foyle, thinking he is about to be rescued, is abandoned by the _Vorga_, and finds his Purpose in Life. This is the very one that I was coming into this thread to post about myself. Would love to see this one on the big screen, and I think it’s the type that would be workable, if it were done right. I’m also a big fan of **Snow Crash** (Neal Stephenson), mentioned upthread. Although I’m not so sure this one would translate well to the screen. It may be hard to really get some of the themes and ideas across. But it does have plenty of action. ---
**Author:** ![Future\_Londonite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9dc877/32.png) [@Future\_Londonite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Future_Londonite)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/88 "2016-01-28T13:18:13Z")
I think **Otherland** by _Tad Williams_ would make for a good TV series with amazing CGI visuals, an interesting cast and open to a wider audience as it’s set in a not too distant future ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/89 "2016-01-28T15:33:03Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Whoops. Got it confused with an Alan Dean Foster novel named “Glory Lane”. My bad. I always thought ADF’s Glory Lane and Spellsinger would both be good movies and the Humanx series would be good for a limited run tv series. The characters in Glory Lane are pretty standard archetypes but I would probably cast as follows: Seeth- Rami Malik Miranda- Evan Rachel Wood or Melonie Diaz Kerwin- Paul Dano The soundtrack would have to be kickass, though. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/90 "2016-01-28T15:54:49Z")
Alan Dean Foster’s _Icerigger_, about a group of humans’ adventure in a medieval alien culture on a harsh, frozen world, would make a great movie, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Totenfeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/91 "2016-01-28T21:46:41Z")
I just remembered - why in the HELL have none of us gone for William Gibson’s Neuromancer? ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/92 "2016-01-28T23:34:10Z")
I’d love a movie from either the Hammer’s Slammers or Northworld series by David Drake. I doubt either would be done well through Hollywood though. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/93 "2016-01-29T00:11:45Z")
> [@Totenfeier](#): > > I just remembered - why in the HELL have none of us gone for William Gibson’s Neuromancer? PTSD, caused by flashbacks to what Hollywood did to _Johnny Mnemonic._ ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/94 "2016-01-29T02:07:41Z")
I’ll add to the votes for: _The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress Footfall Tunnel in the Sky Have Spacesuit - Will Travel Fire Time The Stars Are Ours_ And also suggest my other favourite by Heinlein: _Citizen of the Galaxy_. (Though I think that would need to be a mini-series rather than a single film.) For Norton, perhaps _Galactic Derelict_ or _Star Rangers_. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/95 "2016-01-29T02:39:21Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > Not the most sophisticated stories ever written but absolutely crying out for a movie adaptation are most of the **Keith Laumer Bolo** stories. > > TCMF-2L Not sure how that would be done as most of the dialogue is internal to the Bolo. > [@urban1a](#): > > Niven’s Ringworld, maybe? None of the sequels though. Jar Jar Binks could stand in for Nessus (please no sticksand stones. just joking). As long as we start where Nessus gets one of his head’s cut off. As Jar Jar has only one head, it would solve many problems. How about Philip Jose Farmer’s ‘Riverworld’? Probably more of a TV series, though. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/96 "2016-01-29T03:08:20Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > N > > How about Philip Jose Farmer’s ‘Riverworld’? Probably more of a TV series, though. In 2010, a 4-hour TV movie, Riverworld was produced and released by Syfy. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/97 "2016-01-29T03:10:07Z")
Had a nagging suspicion it had after I posted. Don’t think I saw it or it wasn’t memorable enough. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/98 "2016-01-29T03:28:56Z")
The War Against The Chtorr. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/99 "2016-01-29T04:05:05Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > The War Against The Chtorr. They’d fuck it up so badly that we’d all forget Gerrold hasn’t finished _A Method For Madness_ yet! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/100 "2016-01-29T11:53:58Z")
I’ll second Iain Banks’ “Culture” books, particularly “Player of Games” and “Consider Phlebas,” but any of them will do. It’s top of the line space opera full of interesting philosophical ramifications. Banks worked on many levels, I’m not sure a movie or a TV series could manage it as well, but the interesting characters, action and many striking opportunities for mind-blowing visual imagery could probably make up for that. My favorite Banks novel is “Use of Weapons” but I don’t know how you could visually represent Zakalwe’s personal issues without getting schlocky. Prose doth have its advantages at times. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692.md?page=6)