Asimov's "Foundation" Series as TV or Movie?

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by HIjol, Feb 20, 2014.

  1. HIjol

    HIjol Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Should it be?...Could it be....

    Ian McKellen as Hari Seldon....Ian Holm?...
     
  2. Hound of UIster

    Hound of UIster Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Miniseries.
     
  3. Asbo Zaprudder

    Asbo Zaprudder Admiral Admiral

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    Modern audiences would likely find the story lines unengaging so TPTB would feel it necessary to remove all mention of Psychohistory and turn it into a Star Wars clone with lots of space battles.

    The BBC did an 8-part radio adaptation back in the 1970s. I still have the cassette tape version, which I ripped to MP3. I did wonder if you could use CGI software to add visuals but it's probably best to use your imagination.
     
  4. Guy Gardener

    Guy Gardener Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I thought I had that, and Now I'm suddenly wondering if I only have part one.

    Arrrfg!

    The thing about the books is that every one was smoking.

    Which is why I would cast an older Dennis Leary as Hari Seldon.
     
  5. HIjol

    HIjol Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Dennis Leary...yeah...I could see that!
     
  6. The Lensman

    The Lensman Commodore Commodore

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    At this point I'd much rather see a "fan" production than Hollywood's inevitable bastardization of the material. Something along the lines of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society's approach with "The Whisperer In Darkness". Do it art deco futurism style and find a way to make any changes minimal, yet not too distracting. I think that's going to be the only way we ever get a fairly faithful version of the stories.

    As for the BBC radio adaptation.....here it is:https://archive.org/details/IsaacAsimov-TheFoundationTrilogy
     
  7. Timewalker

    Timewalker Cat-lovin', Star Trekkin' Time Lady Premium Member

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    I made the mistake of trying to start this series right after getting out of a brutal sociology final in college. To this day I haven't been able to make myself read them.

    Asimov's nonfiction essays were great reading, though. :)

    That said... complex SF novels (or series of short stories edited to make novels, as this series was) deserve a well-planned, well-written, well-acted miniseries, as was done with Dune and Children of Dune.

    Nobody in the Foundation books wore funny hats, did they?
     
  8. Guy Gardener

    Guy Gardener Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I creamed myself when Hari was elected Prime Minister, it suddenly made the first chapter of the first novel made so much sense that there would be that much political resentment against his personage had actually ruled the Empire after a fashion for a couple decades.

    Although it was remittant of Gaal Dornick not to mention this from the get go.
     
  9. Guy Gardener

    Guy Gardener Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I was so hung over, that I could only move one arm.

    Flailing, I snagged the first book, and it was 120 pages later before I could rise to my feet.

    (This is the same story, different day as to how I first read preacher.)

    Oh look, just after I finish downloading 1 -8, I discover that i always had one to 8.
     
  10. Mach5

    Mach5 Admiral Admiral

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    Neither. Just fucking leave it be, it's perfect as it is.
     
  11. Alidar Jarok

    Alidar Jarok Everything in moderation but moderation Moderator

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    Part of the charm of the trilogy is hard to recreate in tone in a visual medium. That being said, miniseries is the best option. I think it's too talk and exposition heavy, though.
     
  12. ATimson

    ATimson Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Really? I could see that maybe being true for anything involving the Second Foundation, but the bulk of it seems fairly straightforward to me.

    I don't think you necessarily have to change it to "fix" that, though. There's a lot of stuff that happens off-screen; an adaptation (especially in a miniseries format) could start showing some of that instead.
     
  13. Ensign_Redshirt

    Ensign_Redshirt Commodore Commodore

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    Would work best as a stage production, to be honest.
     
  14. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    I first read it as a 12 year old about to move halfway across the world. Lost the book ( on loan from the library) and incurred my father's wrath, as the library harassing him was the last thing needed before this move. :p

    Miniseries, as it's already episodic.
     
  15. Admiral2

    Admiral2 Admiral Admiral

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    Hollywood already ruined I, Robot. Don't give them more ideas.
     
  16. Greylock Crescent

    Greylock Crescent Adventurer Admiral

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    Mini-series. Trying to wedge the various vignettes into one overall film (for each book) wouldn't work and no doubt the film would be written to make one major overall action story.
     
  17. Guy Gardener

    Guy Gardener Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    "Ruined" is not quite the word.
     
  18. Dream

    Dream Admiral Admiral

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    It's unfilmable.
     
  19. Out Of My Vulcan Mind

    Out Of My Vulcan Mind Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Roland Emmerich has the film and TV rights to Foundation. He tried to get it made as a film without success and is now trying to develop it as a TV miniseries.
     
  20. HIjol

    HIjol Vice Admiral Admiral

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    ...or, we could do that...