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A movie version of The Stars My Destination is in the works
Submitted by Capt. Xerox on April 17, 2006 - 9:48pm.
I'm very excited to hear that Alfred Bester's classic book The Stars My Destination has been optioned as a movie. It is one of my all-time favourite stories and also features one of the best titles ever, not to mention the memorable character of Gully Foyle. Of course I will be bitterly disappointed by the result, but I'll see it anyway.
There are other interesting science fiction movie projects in the works including Mutant Chronicles, which will star John Malkovich. Mel Gibson's production company is involved with a film called Push. No word as to whether the Mad Max star will act in the science fiction movie himself or be content to be behind the scenes. Another book adaptation is The Sparrow, a story about a Jesuit who accompanies a space crew out to make first contact with an alien species. It sounds vaguely reminiscent of Urusla K. LeGuin's The Word for World is Forest.
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Demolished Man
I read "The Stars my Destination" a few years ago and while it had it's good points I found it to be inferior to Bester's "The Demolished man."
Is it just me, or do others concur?
~ Lazarus ~
Bester
The "Bester" of the two books is obviously The Stars My Destination. I read The Stars a few months ago, and after finishing was like "Wow this book is stellar." It had a great plot, set of characters, and the ending left you dazzled. Shortly after i picked up the demolished man. This book is not as well written and often i found myself confused in his hazzy descriptions. I thought the book treaded too slow and had obvious plot holes, which made it seem stupid at times. Also, the ending left me hungry, because the demolishing part was kind of elementary. I'll never read the demolished man again and will probably never recomend it, but for sure i will read the stars every few years.
Demolished Man is a classic
Both books are good and Demolished Man is probably the better of the two, but I think that Stars My Destination is easier to adapt to the screen. The plot is a very straightforward story of revenge that would play well as a film. Demolished Man is interesting as a mystery, but how would you portray telepathy visually?
C.X.
NOOO
NOOOOOOOOOOO, they would never do it to justice
the film company has gone out of control making films of anything and everything
on the other hand..
NOOOOOOOOOOO, they would never do it to justice
the film company has gone out of control making films of anything and everything
I just finished my second reading of this ridiculously awesome book. I think if it was adapted perfectly, with almost nothing changed from the actual story, it would have the potential to be the greatest sci-fi film EVA. Admittedly that's pretty unlikely, i reckon they should get the guy who did The Fifth Element to make it, that film kicked ass
STARS Movie
The good news is, Universal has had the property for 4+ years and still hasn't brought it to production. So, maybe they ARE taking the project seriously. I was very excited when I heard the rights had been optioned to Universal because of their ties to SyFy network and the theme parks. I figured they would throw mountains of $ into development to elevate STARS from the quintessential science fiction graphic novel, to the quintessential science fiction movie.
The bad news is, Universal has had the property for 4+ years and hasn't deemed it worthy of a major investment while turning their focus to bringing the known stage hits to film (i.e. Wicked & Billy Elliott). Are you kidding me?!
Perhaps Besters estate could option the film rights overseas where it might get the proper treatment.
Film rights
Just because someone has optioned a movie doesn't mean that it will ever see the light of day. It just means they are paying someone an annual license to retain the right to turn a book into a movie. Unless there is substantial interest from some other party for the rights, chances are the estate would keep on renewing the contract with the studio as long as they keep wanting to pay for the rights. This could go on for many, many years so the odds of this movie ever being made are probably not so high.
C.X.
A movie version of The Stars My Destination is in the works
This is one of my favourite books. I'd even had the vague idea that Vin Diesel might make a good Gully Foyle. I also think it would be very easy to make a very disappointing film. Obviously, I'll go and see it anyway...
If they were a film
If they were to make this into a film I'm sure they could do it, they'd ruin it, but they could. I'd sya how I'd do it but I would rather me keep it to myself so one day i could do it better possibly, and also in reply to the user who mentioned on the demolished man: how would they do telepathy, in my opinion very easy, you get a camera shot on the eyes and use some kind of focus zoom then record over the top what the person is thinkning, quite like in Dune
so it is all possible but the chances are they will mess it up and also in responce to NOOO, i totaly agree, before long they'l be making films based on mobile phonne games, Snake II: with vengence!
Movie of Stars my Destination (Tiger Tiger!)
I don't believe Vin Diesel has the simplicity and childish qualities or indeed the beast within that the original character Gully Foyle portarays in the book.
He also carries a lot of baggage from previous movies and characters. I like him but don't know if he is right for the part.
If the movie had ever been made in the 80's it would have had Arnold (there's a blessing) in the title role. We have been spared that.
In the 90's they would probably have put Mel Gibson in it (another blessing) as lead.
I'd quite like to see our old friend from LOTR, Viggo Mortensen. I think that the role needs an actor with skills and not just a ripped action hero
who looks good ripped and buff with his shirt half torn off. Just my personal opinion.
We'll probably end up getting a glamour boy name who will guarantee to cover production costs through box office. I am not hilding my breath
After all, look what happened with Will Smith in the I Robot attempt. Terrible. he was just as bad in Legend. he only has one style aka Independence Day, same action hero same looks, same intonations. Will is fun but very limited. he's the same character almost in all these action yarns.
Nope, I think Viggo could pull it off.
Lets just hope that they do a great novel justice for once.
please do it justice
obviously there has never really been a film better than the book it was based on, and this book sets a high benchmark to begin with. It needs a talented unknown actor, preferrably a large meaty guy (not ripped, handsome etc) ideally the 'everyman' than bester describes.
It would need an awesome performance to show the 'count of monte cristo' type drive and rage. but if they kept it true to the book story and tone (which incidentally, the adaptation of one of my other favourite novels did not. I am legend was just a decent zombie movie, unfortunately they decided to pretend it was based on a novel - by keeping the character name, title, and thats about it)
ill be holding my breath, hopefully a good director / fan of the book gets hold of it. because if they mess this one up - ill be thinking of them as my own vorga! kill them filthy!
"because if they mess this
"because if they mess this one up - ill be thinking of them as my own vorga! kill them filthy!"
I agree completely...and they will.
This book is so great because on outward appearances it is a great action film, but the depth and interweaving plot make it something that has to be acted just as well. CGI should be kept to an absolute MINIMUM. A film artist has to direct it, no question.
As for the lead Vin Diesel is an absolute joke of a suggestion. The only other person I can think of at the moment is...no one of this generation has the face! No one known, at least.
Tarrantino minus the cliches should direct it! Or John Hillcoat!!!!
He doesn't have the acting
He doesn't have the acting chops, but Vin Diesel is hardly a "joke" suggestion, with a bit of hair (or a wig) he's Gully Foyle physically.
I think the director of
I think the director of Hunger, Steve McQueen, would do a fantastic job with Science Fiction...bring this book into the realm of film without following stereotyped sci-fi filmmaking formulae. As for actors, there are few who could do this. Agree an unknown would be better.
They are going to ruin it for sure. I can tell that just from the fact that its not going to be called Tiger Tiger.
THE STARS MY DESTINATION MOVIE
I have read TSMD many times since 1968 when I bought my first copy at the grade school I attended.
Two actors have seemed right for the part of Gully Foyle over the years, first Nick Nolte, when he was young, and now maybe Joaquin Phoenix.
TSMD would be a great movie if the screen play followed the novel, fast paced and uncompromising about not explaining everything for the average person, let them figure it out for them selves.
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