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Eric Roth is Writing an Intelligent Science Fiction Script

December 10, 2008
Source: Collider
by Alex Billington

Eric Roth

Oscar winner Eric Roth is a very profound screenwriter, with the likes of Forrest Gump, The Horse Whisperer, The Insider, Ali, Munich, and The Good Shepherd all credited to his name, and his latest script being that of David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Collider spoke with Roth recently while he was out promoting Benjamin Button and got a very interesting tidbit of news regarding a science fiction project that he's working on. "Im going to do a big space - I don't want to say odyssey, that's been done - but a space movie for Warner Brothers and I want to start sometime next year," Roth says.

He explained that Warner Brothers commissioned him to somewhat experiment in the science fiction genre and see where his mind takes him for a story. "I have an idea. It's a terrific idea, I know that. Whether I'm able to be able to do it, I don't know." He wouldn't say much, but he did at least mention this: "I think it's somewhere between the intelligence of 2001: A Space Odyssey and the mythology of Star Wars, so I don't know where that leads you. But I don't want to make it so intellectual that it's confounding, but on the other hand I'm not so sure I can write the kind of wonderful fantasy that Lucas does." Roth adds, "I can't answer that because they're going let me just sort of say fade in and see where I go."

Although he's quite vague about the details, I'm already oddly excited for this, just because Roth's scripts are always so grand. Interpreting what he really means by the 2001 and Star Wars references is not only hard by itself, but it may not mean much in the end, because he still has a lot of work to do on the script and it might all change. As long as we get something as epic and emotional as both Forrest Gump and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, then I'll be quite happy. It could be years until this sees the light of day, so until then, I'll dream up epic sci-fi stories on my own and hope Roth writes something incredible.

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Reader Feedback - 4 Comments »

1

Lucas doesn't write wonderful fantasy. ILM creates wonderful fantasy. Eric Roth is already a better writer than Lucas ever was.

Fuelbot on Dec 10, 2008

2

so true fuelbot. lucas has lost his grip on real filmmaking and instead surrounds himself with coporate syncophants.

esophus on Dec 10, 2008

3

"It's a terrific idea, I know that.."

a little full of yourself, aren't you roth?

"I think it's somewhere between the intelligence of 2001: A Space Odyssey…"

lol, let's see what you got up your sleeve before you start referencing timeless classics in discussing your own work.

for all we know, you could be writing the sequel to the postman.

Tom on Dec 10, 2008

4

I am one exited man after this bit of news… this could turn into something really really amazing!!

Tomi on Dec 10, 2008

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