Robert Rodat has been selected by Emmerich to write a coherent screenable story on the main Foundation trilogy material.

This choice might be good…

*My earlier post was what’s known to Earth humans as a “joke.”

Philip Pullman said the same thing when people asked him about the adaptation of The Golden Compass before it came out. That film had its moments, and the casting was top-notch, but for the most part it was a colossal disappointment (changing the ending sure didn’t help). That’s OK though, because I’ll have the books to go back to. Same thing if Foundation doesn’t work out.

“…then the only result that’s at all interesting is the rare case where the other version works out (like, say, Frank Miller’s 300).”

Or Moore’s own V For Vendetta, for instance, which was great. I think Watchmen might turn out to be really good too (even if we won’t get everything that was in the book).

So look at it this way: It’s a crap shoot as to whether an adaptation of your favourite book or comic will be any good, with the odds generally being against that outcome. But since it’s a non-losing proposition – you still get to keep enjoying your beloved story in its original form – then the only result that’s at all interesting is the rare case where the other version works out (like, say, Frank Miller’s 300).

I almost put a line in the report about how this, like Watchmen, is seen as some by being “unfilmable.” I LOVE the Foundation series with an unholy passion, but it’s not because I close my eyes and can see giant action set pieces in my head (that’s John Scalzi’s stuff) – it’s because of the richness of the world and the story.

So – I’m optimistic, but I’m always optimistic about stuff like this.

Anyhow, I know little about Emmerich outside of the Stargate film. I didn’t care for that one, so it doesn’t fill me with much hope, but who can say? I certainly hope any adaptation(s) of Foundation turn out better than I, Robot did.

I have this strange feeling of dread similar to what some Watchmen fans are feeling about that movie. I question whether Foundation will really work as film. Either way, it won’t affect the books though. They’ll still be the classics they are, regardless of how a movie fares.