# 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:** 6
**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, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/101 "2016-01-29T11:58:28Z")
Got so busy seconding Banks that I forgot to add my own personal nominee: Tim Powers’ “Declare.” The mixture of a spy thriller set in the Middle East, Russian and Europe with Powers’ mind-blowing concept of what djinni are would make for a VERY different story, especially as Powers did a brilliant job of mixing it all together with the historic record of Kim Philby’s adventures. It’s the sort of story Hollywood can do well, which does not describe a lot of the best science fiction and fantasy novels out there. ---
**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 29, 2016, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/102 "2016-01-29T12:51:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > In 2010, a 4-hour TV movie, Riverworld was produced and released by Syfy. Syfy made _two_ attempts at a Riverworld mini-series. Both were awful, although the second one less so. If they hadn’t screwed with the story wholesale they might have made something worthwhile. The hero of _To Your Scattered Bodies Go_ is Sir Richard Burton, but for the first Riverworld TV movie they took him out altogether and made the central character an American astronaut, I suspect on the theory that Americans would rather watch a story with an American as the central character. The plot was not derived from any of Farmer’s Riverworld books or short stories. The second one put Burton back, but not as the main character, and in a nebulous role. It contained more stuff from the books, but not enough, IMHO. Why do this? Why buy a property that people like so you can slap that name on your product, only to throw out the contents, use only the basic idea, and write a completely different story to fill the time? I think that a good series could be made out of the Riverworld books. They just haven’t done it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Totenfeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/103 "2016-01-29T13:13:50Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > PTSD, caused by flashbacks to what Hollywood did to _Johnny Mnemonic._ Point taken. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/104 "2016-01-29T13:16:22Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I think that a good series could be made out of the Riverworld books. They just haven’t done it yet. Not sure the world is ready for a series that has an ultimately sympathetic _Hermann Göring_ as a character… ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/105 "2016-01-29T13:41:25Z")
I’d love to see David Brin’s stuff done well - maybe start with Startide Rising as the most action-y, although I’m not sure the dolphins can carry a film. Then The Uplift War, because the new Apes movies have given me hope that the Uplifted Chimps can be done properly now. Of course, actually I’d be hoping for a Jijo trilogy… ---
**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 29, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/106 "2016-01-29T13:55:57Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Not sure the world is ready for a series that has an ultimately sympathetic _Hermann Göring_ as a character… It ain’t a major point. That they could easily take out and not affect the story. And it wouldn’t bother me. ---
**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 29, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/107 "2016-01-29T16:35:39Z")
Ken Grimwood’s _Replay_ is a great quasi-time travel story and journey of personal discovery, with a bit of alternative history thrown in. Love to see a movie made of it someday. ---
**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, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/108 "2016-01-29T18:10:04Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Got so busy seconding Banks that I forgot to add my own personal nominee: Tim Powers’ “Declare.” The mixture of a spy thriller set in the Middle East, Russian and Europe with Powers’ mind-blowing concept of what djinni are would make for a VERY different story, especially as Powers did a brilliant job of mixing it all together with the historic record of Kim Philby’s adventures. It’s the sort of story Hollywood can do well, which does not describe a lot of the best science fiction and fantasy novels out there. Tim Powers writes great stuff. Not sure if it would make a great film, tho. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/109 "2016-01-29T18:20:16Z")
I don’t keep up with much Sci-Fi, but its been a hundred years and no one has done a blockbuster Cthulhu Mythos movie. Set it as a period piece with giant monsters and people going insane. It would certainly be better than Cloverfield ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/110 "2016-01-29T18:52:44Z")
Since I already mentioned one of my current series, I’ll go ahead and mention the other (albeit it is altered-history as much as SF, but you’ll find it on the SF shelves). The Ring of Fire series by Eric Flint (and a host of co-authors) sends a small West Virgina town to Germany in May 1631. Hillbilles meet 17th century Europe, complete with kings, counts, Cardinals, and other interesting folks. You get a bit of SF mixed in with 17th century Europe (where our stuff like computers and airplanes _seem_ like SF to the locals. It’s been optioned for a mini-series in England, but like so many SF projects, it’s in Development Hell. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/111 "2016-01-29T19:02:23Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > \ > … I have waited half my life for a Rendezvous with Rama movie and am prepared to wait the second half if I must. > \ OK. But, you really should avoid waiting any longer than that. J/K 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/112 "2016-01-29T19:20:54Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Why do this? Why buy a property that people like so you can slap that name on your product, only to throw out the contents, use only the basic idea, and write a completely different story to fill the time? You are a high-paid studio executive. You have to Express your Creativity, and make a Contribution to the project. I am quite certain that my grandmother’s dog thought he was making a creative contribution to the neighborhood, when he marked fire hydrants. ---
**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, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/113 "2016-01-29T19:40:28Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Syfy made _two_ attempts at a Riverworld mini-series. Both were awful, although the second one less so. > Why do this? Why buy a property that people like so you can slap that name on your product, only to throw out the contents, use only the basic idea, and write a completely different story to fill the time? > > . 'Cause that’s what SyFy does. :(:mad: ---
**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, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/114 "2016-01-29T20:14:58Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > 'Cause that’s what SyFy does. :(:mad: Not any more. They seem to have turned over a new leaf of late and are treating adaptations of books very well. Not always successfully, but damn, they’re trying. And sometimes they are very successful. See: The Expanse. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/115 "2016-01-29T21:35:29Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > 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. Actually, I was just thinking that _Use of Weapons_’ story would be the easiest to present on film. It’s basically just _Memento_ over a longer time scale and… you know, in space and stuff. You’d just add more explanatory dialogue between Diziet and the drone in order to explain the stuff that’s going on in his head in the book. Having said that, _Consider Phlebas_ probably makes more sense because it’s the most “conventional” Culture story. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/116 "2016-01-29T21:41:03Z")
Something out of Niven’s _Man-Kzin Wars_ milieu might work. Only downside would be how much Known Space backstory you’d have to work in. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/117 "2016-01-29T22:01:26Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Actually, I was just thinking that _Use of Weapons_’ story would be the easiest to present on film. It’s basically just _Memento_ over a longer time scale and… you know, in space and stuff. > > You’d just add more explanatory dialogue between Diziet and the drone in order to explain the stuff that’s going on in his head in the book. > > Having said that, _Consider Phlebas_ probably makes more sense because it’s the most “conventional” Culture story. I think _Matter_ would make a good film; the story is basically a ‘Mummy’s Tomb’ melodrama, with all the interesting Culture trappings. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/118 "2016-01-29T23:30:44Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 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. I’m in on this. I was frightened when I heard Gondry was set to do this, then relieved when he passed, then disappointed it wasn’t going anywhere. Also, Rendezvous With Rama gets my vote. Some Harlan Ellison material would make good cores for screenplays, just like PKD (great ideas, not overly long) -Oh, and I’d love to see an attempt at Startide Rising, but just fail to see how the dolphins could be done without some half-ass CGI. And the translating, how could that work? ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/119 "2016-01-30T01:32:27Z")
My favorite John Scalzi is not actually Old Man’s War, but Redshirts, a humorous meta novel about a bunch of Star Trek (well, a non-copyrighted equivalent of Star Trek) disposable crew members who start suspecting something’s very odd with the so-dramatically convenient deaths of their comrades. ---
**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 30, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692/120 "2016-01-30T03:21:50Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > I don’t keep up with much Sci-Fi, but its been a hundred years and no one has done a blockbuster Cthulhu Mythos movie. Set it as a period piece with giant monsters and people going insane. It would certainly be better than Cloverfield Not a blockbuster but still very much worth seeing: [The Call of Cthulhu - DVD – The HPLHS Store](http://store.cthulhulives.org/collections/movies-music/products/call-of-cthulhu-dvd) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-big-science-fiction-movie-should-be/743692.md?page=7)