14 DAY TRIAL // Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel “Brave New World” might be one step closer to becoming a long feature film, with director Ridley Scott and actor Leonardo DiCaprio taking the project to the initial development stages. While nothing has been officially confirmed so far, the two have started talking making the film, even approaching a writer for the script and discussing issues like producers and cast members, a Reuters piece informs.
“Brave New World” has seen many adaptations, mostly for television, but it has never had a chance on the big screen, mostly because dystopias are considered too difficult a material to handle, and due to the fact that chances of being a box-office success are actually quite slim. Because of this, word in the industry has it that, if there’s one director who could make this work, then that must be Scott, judging by his past experience. DiCaprio’s acting skills and backup (since his production company, Appian Way, would handle the film) would also come in handy, it is further being said.
“The ‘Blade Runner’ director is joining forces with Leonardo DiCaprio to take on one of the most highly regarded dystopian works of literature, Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brave New World.’ Both are producing the Universal project, which DiCaprio would tentatively star in and Scott direct. The studio has brought on ‘Apocalypto’ scribe Farhad Safinia to write the script; he’s expected to be working shortly. Scott has mentioned casually in interviews that he’s interested in the 1931 novel, whose film rights are owned by DiCaprio’s Appian Way production company, prompting a flurry of rumors on sci-fi and other blogs over the past year.” Reuters says.
Insiders insist the project is still in early stages of development, so perhaps sci-fi fans should not get too fluttered over it, since they still have a long waiting before them. However, the simple fact that there is now a director, an actor who would play the lead and a screenwriter attached is definitely a step forward, as opposed to a mere rumor making the rounds, saying a “Brave New World” movie will eventually be made, Reuters points out. More details on this are bound to emerge in the following months, speculation has it.
“Characters who figure in are Bernard, a misfit in his caste, and Lenina, the woman with whom he is infatuated. DiCaprio would likely play Bernard, who is persecuted when the leaders of the society find his behavior antisocial. […] Scott is considered one of the few who can pull it off. The director took the Philip K. Dick novel ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’ and turned it into the 1982 futurist pic ‘Blade Runner.’ While the movie divided critics and didn’t enjoy a great theatrical run, it has had a long life on video and become a cult classic.” Reuters further explains.