Last time we saw Homer’s The Odyssey thrown up on the screen, it was in highly reworked, nigh-unrecognizable form as the Coen Brother’s O Brother, Where Art Thou?. The next time you see it could be slightly less chewed-up, but no less outlandish: George Miller is set to adapt the epic poem starring Brad Pitt as Odysseus, and plans to transplant the action to outer space.
Maybe.
Warner Brothers has the project, and as Variety has it, the studio’s ‘early hope’ is that Miller will direct and Pitt will star. Miller directing doesn’t seem like a stretch, though it suggests that any lingering dissent over Justice League has been dealt with, if this project isn’t in fact the method of dealing with it. But Pitt…chances currently hold at about one in four that he’ll actually appear as Odysseus in the final project, though his Plan B shingle could still be the producing entity no matter what.
As for the basic concept — The Odyssey in space — sure, why not? This generation hasn’t quite had it’s own Outland yet, and this is far more fertile fodder than even High Noon.
13 comments
Isn't this what The Forever War is going to be like? (Forgive me, I haven't read it)
I dig it that Miller is doing it, but I'm not sure yet.
Odysseus has already gone into space : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131190/
with a great theme song to boot.
Huh. Had never heard of that. Might watch it sometime.
Ulysse 31 rocks. Best TV animated sci-fi ever.
Please please please cast the same actress for Calypso and Penelope. That is one of the best parts of the 54 Kirk Douglas version (it is probably the best adaptation of the series set to film which is really really sad).
How dare they rip off Ulysses 31. This is a sham and I hope it fails.
They should get him to come back and play Aeneas in a few years too.
Is The Odyssey a book? What is the author Homer's second name? I might check it out in the bookshop.
What, no Armand Assante? This is an outrage.
reginald: no, Forever War is not like the Odyssey – if anything, it's closer to Apocalypse Now. Actually, it's like no other story I can think of, it really is original, and it would make for an interesting movie. I blame the stupid Variety article for misrepresenting the storyline, no wonder people are confused.
Miller on scifi, oh yes! Pitt is getting interesting again- offbeat comedy with Cohens, offbeat action with Tarantino, but him and Mad Max/Witches of Eastwick Miler doing some crazy greek epic scifi sounds positively craptastic.
There is a strong ring of familiarity to this concept, even beyond the marvelous Ulysses 31 – I specifically have the feeling I've seen the Sirens done in SF film or TV somewhere.
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