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Ridley Scott Says Cameron Inspired Him to Make Forever War in 3D

by Alex Billington
March 26, 2009
Source: Wharf.co.uk

While we know that Ridley Scott is gearing up to start shooting Robin Hood soon, we can't forget that after he finishes work on that, he'll most likely move onto an adaptation of Joe Haldeman's The Forever War. We first announced that this was one of two sci-fi projects that Scott had in the works (the other being Brave New World) late last year, and considering he's been working hard to get Robin Hood finally moved into production, we haven't heard much on either of the projects since then. However, Wharf.co.uk (via SlashFilm) finally has an update from Ridley Scott himself, and it's a fairly exciting one this early out.

Scott told Wharf, "I'm filming a book by Joe Haldeman called Forever War. I've got a good writer doing it. I've seen some of James Cameron's work, and I've got to go 3D. It's going to be phenomenal." No word on who that writer is, but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. As a recap, "The Forever War", first published in 1974, is about 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. Scott previously called it a "brilliant, disorienting premise" that was described on Amazon as "an allegory of the Vietnam war, told through the eyes of a reluctant soldier caught up in a battle that never seemed to end, while the world he left behind changed drastically."

The most exciting part of that quote from Scott is not necessarily that he will return to sci-fi some 30 years after directing Blade Runner, but instead that Avatar has already started to change the movie industry as we know it. Sure, anyone can argue that 3D has been around for a while, but I've been saying that it's Cameron and Avatar and the technology he invented for that movie that will truly revolutionize Hollywood. Obviously it affected Ridley Scott enough to cause him to specifically reference Cameron when talking about his next sci-fi project. Let's just hope Scott does decide to direct The Forever War next.

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Nikhil Hariharan

Yes! I just finished watching the Final Cut of Blade Runner and have to say that i do miss Ridley Scott's sci-fi roots, hope he can make another phenomenal sci-fi movie as great as Blade Runner. And who can forget Scotts film Alien, man the good old days. Im still eager for the release of at least a teaser Avatar, seriously summer needs to get here fast!
Trystan

Well, I don't think Scott has made many great films in a good few years, but I'm hoping it does turn out good.
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

Here's a good nugget of info for you Nikhil, and those who check up on these comments... The first trailer for Avatar won't show up until probably August or later... Long wait, but it'll be worth it.
J.White

Im not being cynical, Im a huge Scott fan. Although I worry that when a VISIONARY director plans somthing potentialy amazing thats a few years out, and so said director/producer is aging along in years... Imagine Blade Runner only half completed and then X-Men 3 director steping in. Am I alone?
Kal-el

I agree with you #2. Scott's last great film was Gladiator. I know alot of people out there would argue and say Black Hawk down was great, but seriously that film was more like watching a documentary/video game then a movie. Scott is a great filmmaker when he wants too, and hopefully this will be the film that will bring him out from his slum.
LINKFX

If Avatar is so freaking revolutionary like everyone is trying to cum on our faceswith everyday on thesefilm sites, why can'twe see some evidence?
Timothy

# 3 Why August, I don't expect it very soon but surely but mid-summer when all the big December movies should be showing up . . .
JJJT

#5, wat about american gangster, that was ok but it wasnt awfull and same thing for black hawk down. kingdom of heaven was good too but just really long haha
andrew

wasn't there an announcement a while back saying the trailer for avatar was in front of transformers 2? also you don't need to wait for avatar to see the potential of 3-d. that was shown when coraline started screening in early february.
Scott McHenry

#6 We can't, and shouldnt see any evidence yet because it comes out in December! enough said
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#7 & #9 - Nothing is confirmed, but I got word from my peeps at Fox that that is the plan... Cameron doesn't want to show an ounce of footage until the CGI and everything is 100% finished. And that is taking a long, long time...
dave

In the Forever War book, the time difference was much more than 20 years, the entire human race had evolved while the soldiers were gone! If the movie is only dealing with a 20 year span, that would really sap some of the strength of the story, I think. But, hopefully R. Scott can do it!
smacky

Lets hope he pulls this off. The Forever War is an awesome book
Dru

I've read the book many times in my life, and I agree with #12's concerns. I thought the complete societal shifts between his trips "home" were a great way to demonstrate his alienation. (How would you react if you came home to find out that society had all gone homosexual in your absence, making you the 'wierdo' in their midst?) The way things would constantly change and shift around him while he and his troops were essentially frozen in time (yay, time dilation!) was a great thing. What changes in 20 years?
mark hall

only 1 person ...cares that it was an awesome book.....sheesh i just hope ...the film can get 20% of the books ...greatness
http://www.thevigonline.com Bill

Yeah the forever War Fantastic story and if they do the battle scenes it will be great. a man goes to war and everytime his ship goes towards a battle it cause a time dilation so he returns decades later and eventually hundreds of years laters
nicolas

omfg!!!!! that s an amazing news,just finished reading the book during my hiloday,been in love with that story ever since i got it on comics some 20 years ago and Ridley Scott always been one of my top3 directors.This is going to be such a treat from the greatest creator of worlds out of one of the best science fiction book i read... HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY