Mon Oct 13, 2008 — by Josh Wigler

Ridley Scott Goes to 'War'

Director Returns to Science Fiction

Variety reports that director Ridley Scott will helm The Forever War, based on Joe Haldeman's 1974 novel of the same name. The film will be Scott's first foray into science fiction since Alien and Blade Runner.

Scott admits that he intended to film The Forever War nearly, well, forever ago.

"I first pursued Forever War 25 years ago, and the book has only grown more timely and relevant since," said Scott.

"It's a science-fiction epic," he continued, "a bit of The Odyssey by way of Blade Runner, built upon a brilliant, disorienting premise."

The novel's plot centers on "a soldier who battles an enemy in deep space for only a few months, only to return home to a planet he doesn't recognize some 20 years later." Forever Free and Forever Peace were two other novels set in the the same reality in addition to the novella A Separate War. The novel has also been adapted into a three-volume graphic novel by the Belgian comics creator Marvano which saw an English edition years ago.

The Forever War has been in development for, you guessed it, forever. Shortly after the novel's publication, Richard Edlund picked up the rights to the film with the intention of making it his directorial debut. When the film never entered production, the Sci Fi Channel attempted a miniseries that also hit a stalemate. Scott eventually secured the rights, and the film will now be produced by Scott Free with executive producers Vince Gerardis and Ralph Vicinanza, whose company Created By represents Haldeman.

Ridley Scott himself has a project slate that extends from now until, that's right, forever. The director is set to helm Nottingham starring Russell Crowe as both Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. He also was recently attached to an adaptation of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, which would have marked his first science fiction film in over three decades had The Forever War fallen through. Scott is also circling Child 44 and Gucci. His latest film, Body of Lies, debuted last Friday to unexpectedly poor box office numbers.

On a side note, check out the cover to The Forever War. Doesn't that look exactly like Benicio Del Toro? While it's too early to talk about casting, who wouldn't want to see good ol' BDT in a space odyssey?

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