What SF/Fantasy movie would you make? [Archive]

Nangleator

11-17-2008, 11:13 AM

There's much ado in another thread about Star Trek and beating old franchises into the ground. One suggestion is that Hollywood turn existing, good IP into new movies.

What science fiction/fantasy novel/comic would you like to see made? And why?

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I'd suggest the first Dragonriders of Pern book. It's possible to do it well now. The aerial scenes could be beautiful and thrilling. There's a strong female lead. There's lots of potential for sequels.

Downside: They muck with the story too much. They don't get the loving relationships between dragon and rider right. They try to fit too much crazy action into it.

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Suggestion two: Ringworld.

Downside: They'd very likely not stick to the story, the setting, the characters, the sense of wonder, or the solving of puzzles. Also, they'd totally fail to have a truly alien feel to the aliens. (I don't want to see Ron Perlman in a Kzin suit.)

shrox

11-17-2008, 04:15 PM

I want to make a 25th century retelling of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", I just need the funding! A futuristic version of "Dr. Zhivago" would be cool too.

Liber777

11-17-2008, 04:32 PM

Hyperion / Fall of Hyperion, Endymion / Rise of Endymion

by Dan Simmons

Iain

11-17-2008, 04:38 PM

Iain M. Banks' The Algebraist. Or Consider Phlebas. In fact most of his 'Culture' books would work well.

Peter F. Hamilton's stuff would make good TV if the budget was there.

Elmar Moelzer

11-17-2008, 04:39 PM

Perry Rhodan
Looooong story, enough for many, many seasons ;)

virtualcomposer

11-17-2008, 04:47 PM

I'd like to see a good Airwolf movie made. To finish it like it should have finished instead of selling the rites to Canada and film a 4th season on a home video camera!

Andrewstopheles

11-17-2008, 07:35 PM

World Enough, and Time

adamredwoods

11-17-2008, 07:49 PM

Remake of I, Robot, but as a mystery/scifi and less of an action flick. More true to the book.

Or remake of Wizard of Earthsea. A fantastic book, but a terrible made-for-tv mini-series.

Hopper

11-17-2008, 08:04 PM

I know it sounds "Lord of the Rings-ish" but I'd love to see a movie of some of the Terry Brooks' Shannara series of books. Really good imagery in those things - if they could put it to screen.

Either that or something fun like any of Piers Anthony's Xanth or Aprentice Adept series. Artists and animators would have a ball with that. I wouldn't even mind if it was animated.

IMI

11-17-2008, 08:11 PM

The Dark Tower by Stephen King - in its entirety. Maybe an 8 hour movie. ;)

And done up by someone really good, so as not to end up like most of that other crap they called movies made of King's books.

That and Ringworld.

Nangleator

11-17-2008, 08:29 PM

Foundation series? It's been a while since I've read it.

Ender's War wouldn't translate too well, I don't think.

How about Starship Troopers the way it was written?

wp_capozzi

11-17-2008, 09:28 PM

Dexter2999

11-17-2008, 09:48 PM

I know it sounds "Lord of the Rings-ish" but I'd love to see a movie of some of the Terry Brooks' Shannara series of books. Really good imagery in those things - if they could put it to screen.

It's in the works.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1051220/
I have also read that the rights to the MAGIC KINGODOM FOR SALE SOLD have been optioned. This info I originaly came across on Terry Brooks Forum.

The Dark Tower by Stephen King - in its entirety. Maybe an 8 hour movie.

And done up by someone really good, so as not to end up like most of that other crap they called movies made of King's books.

That and Ringworld.

I came to the realization about a year ago to do justice to many of the books I love, they would have to be made as mini series. To chop a book down to two hours you can really lose alot of the nuances that make the book so great. The miniseries lets you shoot that eight hour movie. Then no one has to sit through it in one shot.

I would love to make the Terry Brooks Magickingdom books. I think the David Eddings Elenium and Tamuli would be great works.
Piers Anthony Incarnations of Immortality series as well.
R.A. Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy and the rest of the books of that vein.

Now if I could just get HBO to cut me about $40million to get started.

Hopper

11-17-2008, 09:51 PM

It's in the works.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1051220/
Very cool. I hope they don't ruin it.

Piers Anthony Incarnations of Immortality series as well.
On a Pale Horse ... one of my favorites.

virtualcomposer

11-17-2008, 10:23 PM

I would also like to do a movie on how NASA actualy sees ufos in there videos and covers them up. Not a docudrama but a real movie.

jburford

11-17-2008, 10:44 PM

War of the World Retro Style 30's.

Cohen

11-17-2008, 11:21 PM

With out question, I'd pick Decipher by Stel Pavlou as the next 'to-do' block buster. He gives an interesting spin on world history, transforming it to fit some of the challenges we face today. As for the FX work, who could deny an ancient atlantis city found under the arctic shelf. A city encapsulated by a gigantic sky of ice. This book has it all. Geology, archeology, the physical sciences, military struggle between power nations, an unraveling of ancient history as 'it really was'. Its a fantastic story, probably my favorite among fictional novels.

Sande

11-18-2008, 03:24 AM

Vernor Vinge's A Deepness in the Sky.
Epic and excellent storyline, interesting world and vision - would make a nice 3,5 hour movie.

Korvar

11-18-2008, 06:14 AM

A proper D&D movie. There's a good one in there, I tells ya!

I would also love to see a Dark Sun movie - it's a D&D background, which is like a magical post-apocalypse Mad Max world.

IMI

11-18-2008, 06:21 AM

Pretty much anything by Larrry Niven.

*Pete*

11-18-2008, 06:36 AM

Patrick O'Brian's series of Captain Aubrey and Dr Maturin.
i think its a total of 21 books, of which i read perhaps 8 so far.

some material of the books were used to make "Master and Commander".

its very intresting mix of fiction and fact...every detail in the battles, down to the individual wounds and the amount of cannons fired and powder used is historically accurate which makes the whole series of books feel realistic, even though the story itself is fiction.

DiedonD

11-18-2008, 06:37 AM

Must it be after a book?

Id remake this movie one day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwtuQL6g__w

And I have a serie of an Secret Agent in mind.

And if anything else doesnt evolves in my head till then, then Id make my grand master piece movie.

Yeah alotta movies, but not enough time. :(

Nangleator

11-18-2008, 07:57 AM

>D&D movie...

This seems to be impossible for Hollywood. They buy a script for a new genre or franchise, a script which might not be too bad, but the money men want to play Hollywood director and bork it up. The result is a monstrously bad movie. When another script is written, the money men say, "That other movie sucked!" and fund another retread movie instead.

>Niven...

I would be so eager and so fearful. Would they do it well, or would they stink it up? Look how Heinlein's books have translated into film.

>Must it be a book?

Nope! Comics, epic poems, video games, full body tattoos... Anything with a story.

Limbus

11-18-2008, 08:18 AM

I would like to see a good Shadowrun Movie.

CMT

11-18-2008, 08:32 AM

I would like to see a good Shadowrun Movie.

I was just about to type that. :) A Shadowrun or some type of cyberpunk/technomagical movie would be good.

CMT

11-18-2008, 08:44 AM

Or maybe one based on the Rifts RPG (http://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=874)....

Liber777

11-18-2008, 08:58 AM

I'd still like to see The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy done faithfully. The movie was a huge letdown. The low budget BBC miniseries was much better. At least a majority of Adams' wit was retained in the TV version.

Book-true versions of The Time Machine and War of the Worlds would be welcome as well. No one has represented the Eloi as they were written.

And "Good Omens" I wish Terry Gilliam would get that one done!

biliousfrog

11-18-2008, 11:35 AM

In contrast to Marvel's Iron Man, I always thought the story of Black Sabbath's Iron Man was an immensely interesting story. If you read the lyrics without the music, and with a bit of imagination, it could be quite deep and dark and sci-fi. I had a screenplay brewing for a few years until I heard they were making the Marvel Iron Man movie. It might still be a decent fan film if I get the time.

Wasn't that based on the Iron Giant?

I'd like to see a decent Terry Pratchett movie. I can't believe that he waited so long for the right adaptation and then let Sky do those bloody awful TV movies. I'll never be able to read his first two books again, luckily I missed the Hogfather, it was supposed to be even worse.

Has anyone seen Alec Gillis' book 'Worlds'? It would make a great film if done in the same journalistic way, I love that book.

I'd like to do a faithful adaptation of Aeon Flux too...I liked the film in it's own right but it wasn't much like the cartoons, she'd have to die at the end :D

hmm...what else....Silent Running. I'd love to remake it for new audiences even though the original is still great. It's one of those films that has such a nice story but hasn't aged well at all.

...and I like to do the last three Star Wars films + Crystal Skull the way they should have been...without Lucas!

Speedmonk42

11-18-2008, 11:44 AM

vernor vinge's a deepness in the sky.
Epic and excellent storyline, interesting world and vision - would make a nice 3,5 hour movie.

+1

Speedmonk42

11-18-2008, 11:52 AM

Enders Game
Moving Mars

omeone

11-18-2008, 11:59 AM

Battlefield Earth (done right)

and +1 for Foundation or indeed anything from Asimov

http://boring3d.com/daily/12-10-02.jpg

Andyjaggy

11-18-2008, 12:01 PM

+1 for Enders Game. Tons of potential there, it would appeal to not just sci-fi junkies but all sorts of crowds, it's just as much about the human condition as aliens. Great books.

Nangleator

11-18-2008, 12:10 PM

I don't know about Ender's Game or Gateway. Maybe too introspective for a movie. And Ender's has an M. Knight thing going where if you know the ending, you really lose a lot of enjoyment. Although the Battle Room sequences would rock...

Moving Mars... Yeah. +1

adamredwoods

11-18-2008, 12:19 PM

>D&D movie...

This seems to be impossible for Hollywood. They buy a script for a new genre or franchise, a script which might not be too bad, but the money men want to play Hollywood director and bork it up. The result is a monstrously bad movie. When another script is written, the money men say, "That other movie sucked!" and fund another retread movie instead.

The Punisher is a prime example. I cannot believe they're making yet ANOTHER one: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450314/

JohnMarchant

11-18-2008, 03:21 PM

Well id have a go at Fritz Lang's "Metropolis"

Lightwolf

11-18-2008, 03:24 PM

Helliconia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helliconia), but it would likely only make sense as at least a mini-series and the script would be a pain to get right.

I just always like the concept.

Cheers,
Mike

Nangleator

11-18-2008, 03:43 PM

Stainless Steel Rat, if they did it right. Get the character right and the humor, and it would work.

Mike_RB

11-18-2008, 04:31 PM

Stranger in a strange land, The Moon is a harsh mistress, Enders Game, Dust (by Charles Pellegrino) would all make excellent films. Christian Bale as Michael in Stranger would work fine.

the Protector/Ringworld stuff with Louis Wu would also work pretty well. Or all the Beowulf stuff from Niven, might work as well. Not sure if Foundation would translate that well to a film as every 40 min or so you would need an all new cast, maybe mini series.

A realistic version of Dust would be downright terrifying.

Bill Carey

11-18-2008, 05:36 PM

The Mote in God's Eye

Rendezvous with Rama

If not that, I'll second (or third or fourth) the call for a Ringworld movie.

The technology is finally available for these movies to be done right.

I loved Childhoods end, I think it would make an EXCELLENT Lost type of series.

jasonwestmas

11-18-2008, 05:40 PM

Remake of I, Robot, but as a mystery/scifi and less of an action flick. More true to the book.

Or remake of Wizard of Earthsea. A fantastic book, but a terrible made-for-tv mini-series.

I would definately like to see a well done movie based on Isaac Asimov!

hrgiger

11-18-2008, 07:06 PM

I've always wanted to see a film version of Frank Millers The Dark Knight Returns. http://www.johnsenclan.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/absolute-dark-knight-review-20060824050629377.jpg

bobakabob

11-18-2008, 07:09 PM

A tastefully rendered CGI remake of Bradbury's classic

http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/illustratedmanbooklong.jpg

Stunt Pixels

11-18-2008, 07:23 PM

Stainless Steel Rat, if they did it right. Get the character right and the humor, and it would work.

Hell yeah! He was my favorite character as a kid... I imagine it would translate pretty well too.

My picks would be either "The Diamond Age: Or a Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer", or "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson.

SciFi Channel was apparently doing (has done?) The Diamond Age as a miniseries. But whether that's good or bad... Dunno... But I love the nanotech in the book, the world he creates, and the Victorians in a futuristic environment.

Snow Crash has had its film options bought and sold pretty much since it was released, and no one has made it. I think that is due to the visual complexity of portraying the worlds (both tech VR, and dysfunctional near future). I swear that to do this one right would be either a HUGE budget live action, or done as animation. Personally, I'd like to see it animated...

MachineClaw

11-18-2008, 08:26 PM

Myth series -Robert Asprin

bunch of good Heinlein - Tunnel in the sky, Stranger in a stangeland, moon is a harsh mistress

but my all time I can't believe they haven't made it would be -

Dream Park - Niven, Pournele, barnes. Larping with cool tech.

Carlucci's Edge - Richard Paul Russo. Blade runner-esque cyberthriller and there are three books so trilogy could be possible.

hollywood will only play it safe, no risks. oh well. great sugjestions so far, I've read so many of them.

Nangleator

11-18-2008, 09:59 PM

More I think about Stainless Steel Rat, the more I like it. Jim Carrey? Steve Carrell?

Dexter2999

11-18-2008, 11:20 PM

More I think about Stainless Steel Rat, the more I like it. Jim Carrey? Steve Carrell?

Maybe,this guy (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005351)

danielkaiser

11-18-2008, 11:52 PM

Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_on_Zanzibar

cresshead

11-18-2008, 11:52 PM

remake >>'the day the earth caught fire'

hazmat777

11-19-2008, 12:13 AM

Surprised nobody mentioned Omnivore, Orn, Ox, trilogy by Piers Anthony.

meatycheesyboy

11-19-2008, 12:13 AM

I've always wanted to see a film version of Frank Millers The Dark Knight Returns. http://www.johnsenclan.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/absolute-dark-knight-review-20060824050629377.jpg

Along similar lines, I'd love to see a movie based on Red Son by Mark Millar. It's an Elseworlds story that asks the question, what if Superman's dad sent the spaceship from Krypton 12 hours later than he did and Superman crashed into 1950's Russia instead of 1950's Kansas?

jin choung

11-19-2008, 12:54 AM

since stunt pixels already mentioned snow crash (hailey williams would be perfect for YT http://www.pwnordie.com/videos/fae4d33a5b/guitar-hero-world-tour-with-hailey-williams-from-paramore-from-activision ), i'll pick anathem.

and the entire movie will be cg like beowulf or spirits within... untill all of a sudden, there's a liveaction character that shows up but she's dead... and then there's another one and this is a french guy for some reason.

it would be the perfect use of cgi actors... it would serve a purpose.

jin

Korvar

11-19-2008, 06:56 AM

the mote in god's eye

+1

BeeVee

11-19-2008, 07:54 AM

Wow, some great suggestions here. I'll reiterate that some Iain M Banks would go down a treat as would a mini-series for Night's Dawn Trilogy (that I'm rereading at the moment). To add to the list: Alfred Bester (The Demolished Man and/or Tiger, Tiger AKA The Stars my destination) and Philip Jose Farmer's Dayworld.

B
PS. Not strictly SF but Little Brother (http://craphound.com/littlebrother/) would be superb! If you haven't read it you can download it free here along with Cory's other books (EST would also make a great film).

Tippsy

11-30-2008, 11:18 PM

The entire Sword of Truth series as it was meant to be, not like that terrible terrible tv show version. A real huge budget film oh YEAH!

Stooch

11-30-2008, 11:24 PM

I like the work by Peter F Hamilton (check out "Judas Unchained"), its very realistic and contemporary science fiction. amazing settings, amazing, EPIC locations and character development along with really enjoyable mystery component, borderline CSI.

one book is a hefty 1000 pages and i bet would require a triology just to capture it. ideas are fresh and mind expanding. very good stuff if you like star trek. also another cool thing is that he puts starwars with their jedi powers to shame in terms of fantasy but all of this his stuff is atleast somewhat plausible. Sci fi is serious business lol.

Another awesome writer is Karl Schroeder, he is more steam punk but also fantastic and refreshing work! I would give my left nutt to work on a production around either of these writers!

adk

12-01-2008, 12:31 AM

I was going to say +1 from me on the Hyperion series & just found that
Warner Bros. has nabbed that one from Dan earlier in the year. If it eventuates one can only hope they do it justice.

http://www.dansimmons.com/news/news_items.htm#hyperion

Hyperion / Fall of Hyperion, Endymion / Rise of Endymion

by Dan Simmons

Serling

12-01-2008, 01:18 AM

I'm working on a script for a movie in the fantasy/adventure genre. I want to make it completely in LightWave with photorealistic characters and scenes. I have the first 3 scenes written, but being 51 years old already, I probably won't live long enough to get it done. I still have much to learn about LightWave.

hydroclops

12-01-2008, 12:49 PM

Perdid Street Station by China Mieville

Dirk

12-02-2008, 11:23 AM

"The Infinity Concerto" and "The Serpent Mage" by Greg Bear.

Chilton

12-03-2008, 01:01 AM

Oh I know, I know! The entire Childe Cycle. With The Final Encyclopedia as a year long TV series to fit between the sets of movies of every book. Too much? Fine, just Tactics of Mistake then...

And as a Micronaut collector, I wouldn't mind a Micronauts movie, something from the first run of the Marvel comics though, not the more recent Devil's Due stuff.

-Chilton

Chilton

12-03-2008, 01:05 AM

Hi,

I'd like to see a good Airwolf movie made. To finish it like it should have finished instead of selling the rites to Canada and film a 4th season on a home video camera!

Wait a minute...isn't that Airwolf in the background of your avatar?

-Chilton

beverins

12-03-2008, 10:14 AM

Some picks for Sci Fi / Fantasy Movies

DragonRiders of Pern
Grass by Sherri S Tepper

And then the books by Tad Williams
Tailchaser's Song
Memory, Sorrow, Thorn (dragonbone chair, etc)

bugzilla

12-03-2008, 10:49 AM

If we're talking about already established works, I'd love to make Edgar Rice Burrough's John Carter books into movies.

As for original works, I have been working on a fantasy series about dragons. It was originally called "DragonWars", but there was a recent Korean movie with the same name that was really bad, so to avoid confusion with that movie I'm probably going to rename it.

You can see some of the earlier work on the film at my website

http://digital-sorcery.com/

I have recently decided to rewrite the script and make a second go at it since I have learned so much since then and the new storyline is much tighter and focused.

Nangleator

12-03-2008, 12:09 PM

Ooh, John Carter of Mars... Deja Thoris in all her glory...

toby

12-03-2008, 03:59 PM

Johhny Quest!
and Incredibles 2... but not done like a sequel.

Oh yea there's brits here
Danger Mouse!
Actually, that could rock

Cageman

12-03-2008, 04:37 PM

Hmm...does superhero stuff go into this category as well?

Well, not really a superhero.... but Deathlok (http://www.marvel.com/universe/Deathlok_(Michael_Collins)) could be an awesome actionmovie. I remember when I read the comic (some 200 pages) and it was one of the best comics I've read in my whole life. Really good story, awesome illustrations, and alot of humor when Michael Collins communicates with the computer that originally controlled Deathlok.

Korvar

12-03-2008, 04:42 PM

Ooh, John Carter of Mars... Deja Thoris in all her glory...

I suspect we wouldn't be allowed to see all her glory, alas :)

Mr Rid

12-03-2008, 07:26 PM

Nangleator, you mentioned Foundation and John Carter, both of which are in early development. Foundation deals have been bouncing around for years but now a couple of producers from Lord of the Rings are dicking with it.

John Carter is one I have thought about for many years, and it also bounced around differrent directors- Rodriguez, Favreau (my choice) and Conran, but now Pixar is doing something with it that doesnt sound good. The writer/director says he's writing his own story. I think it really needs to be R rated and not some cute, warm-hearted, Pixary thing.

A director friend of mine and I have talked about doing DUNE right for years, but now that is being handled by Peter Berg.

And will never see Watchmen done any sort of justice since it has now been utterly ruined by yet another adolescent, music video director (I'm sorry, but 300 was totally DUMB).

Rollerball was another great remake potential completely crapped on.

At least I know no one will ever mess up The Abominable Dr Phibes since I am the only person who wants to remake it.
66757

jasonwestmas

12-03-2008, 07:43 PM

Gawd yes, please someone make a Dune movie the correct way!!

Tom Wood

12-03-2008, 08:13 PM

Another vote for Snow Crash.

I always wanted to see the sequels they hinted at to Buckaroo Banzai.

Rendezvous With Rama is/was in development by Morgan Freeman.

Mr Rid

12-04-2008, 02:29 AM

Then of course we're all still waiting for the movie about me
66776
66777

jin choung

12-04-2008, 04:18 AM

yep,

john carter is at pixar. http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/10/07/pixar-confirms-john-carter-of-mars-trilogy/

i heard for a while that they were trying to decide if they're gonna do it cgi or (GASP) live action.

in the comments on that link, someone says that 1906 may be their first live action though....

jin

jin choung

12-04-2008, 04:20 AM

did anyone mention the Dark Tower series yet? love these multiverse kinda stories.... and AWESOME, pitch perfect ENDING.... sooooooo satisfying. would have to be several trilogies though!

jin

Korvar

12-04-2008, 06:03 AM

And will never see Watchmen done any sort of justice since it has now been utterly ruined by yet another adolescent, music video director (I'm sorry, but 300 was totally DUMB).

I've not read the comic, only seen the film, but I've been told 300 is a fairly faithful adaptation of the comic. If that's true, he may well be able to adapt Watchmen faithfully.

Iain

12-04-2008, 06:29 AM

I thought 300 was superb and I'm excited about Watchmen.

If I was a film maker, I can't imagine a more daunting prospect than a cult, universally acclaimed graphic novel.

I should probably add that I think Iron Man was lazy shite from a cinematic point of view. Looked great but just boring.