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Screenwriter Hired for Roland Emmerich's Foundation Trilogy

by Alex Billington
July 26, 2009
Source: ComingSoon

Way back in January it was announced that Roland Emmerich would be directing an adaptation of Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy. That's all we really knew at the time, but when Emmerich appeared at Comic-Con yesterday, he confirmed (via ComingSoon) that they've hired a screenwriter for the adaptation - Oscar nominated writer Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot). "He is the most knowledgeable person I ever met about the Foundation novels. It's great to write with somebody like that because... he knows it. I had a certain idea and he had a certain idea and that together I think will make this a movie."

Emmerich also confirmed that they are going to make an actual trilogy of movies based on the novels, not just one movie. "Foundation is my first attempt to do a series of movies, because we're developing three movies: Foundation, Foundation and Empire and Second Foundation. It took me a long time to actually wait for the moment where the rights were totally free and we got them all." And as for whether or not this will truly be his next movie after he finishes up the apocalyptic end-of-the-world feature 2012, Emmerich said he wasn't sure because he hasn't actually seen a finished script yet. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.

Isaac Asimov's Foundation is an epic saga spanning hundreds of years where humanity finds itself scattered throughout the galaxy under the oppressive rule of the Galactic Empire. Originally published in a serial format as five separate short stories beginning in 1942, Foundation tells the story of a group of scientists, the Psychohistorians, who are doing all they can to preserve knowledge as the colonies around them steadily regress. I'm glad that he decided to bring on a screenwriter who is familiar with this material, as Emmerich has been working with Harald Kloser on his last two projects. We'll keep you updated on the development!

Filed under Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

MrDogbert

Isaac Asimov's Foundation is an epic saga spanning hundreds of years where humanity finds itself scattered throughout the galaxy under the oppressive rule of the Galactic Empire
Xerxex

Why Him I thought he wanted the modern scoiety to die in all him films? anyway show me a trailer and if it is good I' go along with it.
http://godisawesomecrazy.com R

This sounds like FIREFLY. Or should I say FIREFLY sounds like FOUNDATION. In any case this sounds like a cool movie. Hopefully we get to see Emmerich's more serious less campy side. Though I love ID4 and am looking forward to 2012.
L1A

I dunno, just read the books and skip this movie. He makes pretty crappy movies. Except for Braveheart, but then again Mel Gibson produced it =)
L1A

Opps meant to say The Patriot, and it wasn't produced by Gibson. Mixed up my movies /embarrassed
BVDR

@ #1 Indeed @ #2 True, Foundation sortof follows that trend @ #3 HOW DARE YOU. Firefly is nothing like Foundation! They're both good stories, but just cause they both have spaceships doesn't mean they are eve remotely similar. @#4/5 If your saying you wanna skip it cause the movies will never meet fam expectations I agree. But its worth a shot/ YOUR DUM HAHA (jk!) Anyhow, YES PLEASE GIMME NOW! (just please dont fuck this up emmerich...)
Hyacinth

Asimov is coming to the screen! With Dune being penned as well, the age of Sci-fi classics shall begin! I just hope that they are in good hands. *prays to the sci-fi gods*
S

Please, God, not Emmerich!!!
Rich

This scared me at first, and I'll admit, at first it looks scary, but when you consider just what a Director is actually *responsible* for and what the *writer* is responsible for---maybe not. Seriously go back and take a look at RE's films--they're shot beautifully, pacing's good, and casts are good. Even arguably his *worst* movie (Godzilla) LOOKS good, the effects are good--the problem's not in the STORY, the problem is, it tried to be a Godzilla film instead of it's own story--stripped of that baggage, it becomes just another semi-entertaining summer fluff piece. With Rodat, he has a proven oscar-nommed writer who understands and is *dedicated* to the material. The fact that they're looking to do *three* films indicates ,IMO, a desire to get it right. Should be interesting at least
Hari Seldon

What can I say? It's my biopic:, probably he greatest sci fi story every written.) I'm just happy to see my story finally come to the big screen!
9mm

Foundation has a dated feel. Needs to be updated some to not come off campy imo. The idea of psychohistory or whatever it was called is cool, and the messages from the past or what not are a great plot mechanism... But the mundane detail , and focus on little candy pieces of technology, just for the sake of being futuristic, will come off retarded if translated directly to the screen.
Nemo

"Isaac Asimov's Foundation is an epic saga spanning hundreds of years where humanity finds itself scattered throughout the galaxy under the oppressive rule of the Galactic Empire." This isn't quite accurate. The Empire is not portrayed as oppressive, and it's the collapse of the Empire that's the central problem the Foundation is set up to deal with. In fact, the Foundation is intended to become the nucleus of a Second Galactic Empire. (This isn't a spoiler, because it's revealed very early on -- even though it was initially kept secret from the members of the Foundation itself, who thought they were there to write an encyclopedia. Really.)
PSL

Well I'm just glad some one is attempting it. May be Emmerich is not the best, but its the movie money that makes these movies, and Roland is on a roll at this point. Asimov just doesn't get the credit he deserves for his epic Sci-fi work.
larry matlock

i love it gotta find a way to be part of it ,heck yea i'm on it
Doug Craig

Please ! Please! Please!, SONY this is got to be good ! Not a gimic 3D. Where is George Lucas !! Spielberg !! heck even J.J. Abrams. Crap, even Japanese Anime over Avatar like CG. My son , 12 years old is just starting to READ these great stories and know he will learn the stories via his Play Station 3D and DSi XL 3D game. Great - beat the boss and get to see Hari Seldon give him another clue to beat more Pokimon. Read more: http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/02/11/emmerich-is-going-motion-capture-for-the-foundation-trilogy/#ixzz0lzhOsOsl