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Chuck Palahniuk's Rant Headed For the Big Screen, Too!

by Alex Billington
August 26, 2008
Source: Official Site

With author Chuck Palahniuk in the spotlight yet again, I think Hollywood is realizing his books make for great movies. I know we had Fight Club in 1999 and Choke coming up this fall, but what other books of his are being adapted? We've already mentioned Survivor and Invisible Monsters before, but apparently Rant is up next as well. The book was first published just last year and is reportedly already been picked up by a production company. Thanks to SlashFilm, we're pointed to Palahniuk's official website, where they announce that it was indeed picked up and is in early development stages. Unfortunately there aren't any additional details, including who picked it up and whether it will be a small project or big (because that will make a big difference), but for now this is exciting enough anyway.

While I'm not personally the biggest Palahniuk fan, I took a quick look at the synopsis for Rant and was instantly interested. Take a look at this before you even start to consider whether this could be good.

Buster "Rant" Casey was every small kid born in a small town, searching for real thrills in a world of video games and action/adventure movies. The high school rebel who always wins (and a childhood murderer?), Rant Casey escapes from his hometown of Middleton for the big city and becomes the leader of an urban demolition derby called Party Crashing, where on designated nights the participants recognize each other by dressing their cars with tin-can tails, "Just Married" toothpaste graffiti, and other refuse, then look for designated markings in order to stalk and crash into each other. It's in this violent, late-night hunting game that Casey meets three friends. And after his spectacular death, these friends gather the testimonies needed to build an oral history of his short life.

This sounds like an awesome idea for a movie! Not only does it have an exciting story about a demolition derby and a high school kid, but it's got some murderous undertones?! Reminds me a bit of Fight Club (more than Choke does), where there is a lot more going on that what you see on the surface. I'm definitely going to pick up a copy of this book, although I don't think that many Palahniuk fans have called it their favorite book. However, I think in the right hands of a skilled screenwriter and capable director, this could definitely become something profound, although it may not be Palahniuk's best work. All of his writing is fantastic and simply the concept from this book is great enough to make me excited. Thoughts?

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27 Comments

It doesn't excite me as much as any of his other adaptations, but interesting none-the-less.

Keith on Aug 26, 2008

I just finished this book and I enjoyed it. Not his best, Survivor takes that title, but solid none the less. But I have a feeling that we'll be dealing with a lot of voice over naration with this one, due to the way the book was written. Write me down as interested. But I still want my Survivor movie. And $10 says Shia LeBouf plays Rant.

Pudie on Aug 26, 2008

I really enjoyed the book. Not sure how they should adapt it for a movie, though -- seeing as it's presented as a series of interviews from people who tell Rant's story. Technically, Rant doesn't even appear. To be faithful, a film would have to be a sequence of "talking heads" with flashbacks. Quite a tricky one. But, hey -- they'll probably just ignore the inventive way the book was written and patch together a screenplay based on all the novels interviews.

Dan on Aug 26, 2008

Let me guess - At some point in the book, Rant kills a couple of newlyweds, right?

Tom Brazelton on Aug 26, 2008

I enjoyed Rant quite a bit. But I think Palahniuk said when this or Snuff came out, he was expecting these two and whatever his next will be are optioned for movies. @ Pudie Survivor and Invisibile Monsters are definitely his best. I wish they'd be made into great movies.

Matt on Aug 26, 2008

The only Pahlaniuk novels I've read are Rant and Choke, and I enjoyed Rant quite a bit more than Choke. While the plot and character (don't want to give anything away to anyone who hasn't read it), are certainly film-worthy, it's the story-telling device of an "oral history" that made the book so appealing, and as Dan mentioned, it'd be difficult to translate that to the screen. Interested in seeing what develops, though!

Andy on Aug 26, 2008

I think Rant is his only book i haven't read or owned. It was still new to me, now Snuff and another movie. I'm falling behind.

Dustyman1505 on Aug 26, 2008

Honestly, I want to see either the main story or a few of the short stories in Haunted to be made into films. Some of them could stretch a good 90 minutes and are absolutely incredible.

Josiah on Aug 26, 2008

I really enjoyed Rant, it was an interesting way to tell a story, but I also think it would be a tough to adapt to a movie. Although, they could go with a Memento-styled puzzle. Either way Palahniuk is amazing, I think all of his books would make great movies, staying true to the stories in a lot of cases would require nc-17 ratings(haha) Lullaby next please, Joseph Gordon Levitt as Carl Streator!!

theotherbluth on Aug 26, 2008

I'm a big Palahniuk fan, but this was his worst book.

Robert on Aug 27, 2008

Huge Palahniuk fan, and it is DEFINITELY his best book. Hopefully they can pull it off on the big screen.

Syntax on Aug 27, 2008

#8 I agree, maybe they could put together 23 vingettes or something. awesome book, I had to put it down a few times, to get through some of the stories.

theotherbluth on Aug 27, 2008

I think this could be a great movie. I've read several of his novels, and Rant was one of my favorites (Invisible Monsters is still my favorite). If they make this, they better give a great light to the whole "grandfather theory", which was really interesting.

forgetit on Aug 27, 2008

this is relevant to my interests.

Beryl on Aug 28, 2008

Doesn't anyone else think that Lullaby would make a sweet movie?

Ramon on Aug 30, 2008

the party crashing would be awesome to see cinematically......but it would be a different kind of movie...

RedStrine on Sep 2, 2008

I actually consider this my favorite. I think it shows off what the best attributes in his writings, intriguing plot and an unsuspecting twist. And Diary was by far his worst book.

Travis on Sep 3, 2008

I just read one of the early reviews of choke. Looks like a really good movie. I love the book, and cant wait to see it.

Matt on Sep 22, 2008

I agree with RedStrine - "Lullaby" has been overlooked! Having read all his books, I'd like to see something from the 'horror trilogy' made next - Lullaby, Diary, or Haunted. Haunted absolutely takes the cake for dealing with some of the most taboo subjects every printed - if done right, it could be way more shocking than "Hostel" or "Saw", but still be funny.

KC on Sep 24, 2008

Sorry that was Ramon I agree with... and I disagree that "Diary" was his worst! Hey, my kitchen is missing...

KC on Sep 24, 2008

I loved 'Fight Club', both the book and film, though I think David Fincher was the driving force behind the films success. Having read rant I think that Fincher should take this one again, and maybe Jake Gylenhaal should play Rant Casey (who is a bit of a nutcase).

Barry on Oct 7, 2008

I just finished Rant a few minutes ago and i loved it! i'm not a big fan of gore-themed books but somehow, i managed to stay hooked on this this one from beginning to end. if they make Rant into a movie they better do it justice or i'd be seriously pissed.

Nelly on Jan 1, 2009

I've read all of his books except for Diary (totally stoked for Pygmy, by the way) and I have to say Rant was my favorite book, not only speaking with respect to Palahniuk novels specifically, but ever. And ever. Ill admit, it was tough to piece it together within the first couple chapters, but what book isn't? I think with respects to Palahniuk novels, my favorite list goes like this- 1. Rant 2. Snuff 3. Invisible Monsters 4. Survivor 5. Fight Club 6. Lullaby 7. Haunted 8. Choke 9. Diary (still reading) Even though I put some thought into this list, it still doesn't do justice to try and arrange the books into a list. Maybe I should just say all the books are tied for 2nd, Rant remaining in first.

alexandre93 on Mar 10, 2009

I read mostly read Rant under the influence of some nice weed. It turned out to be pretty entertaining, but the parts where I was sober were just...weird. So I don't know, I'm mostly interested to see who they cast and what style they use for the film. I'll probably see it high.

Mup R on May 23, 2009

this isn't even the half of it, the story of Rant is so deep no synopsis can do it justice. I'm interested in how they're going to go about making this into a movie, and especially which parts of the story they'll have to cut to make time (not that it matters, taking anything out will adversely effect the story immensely), I highly recommend that anyone who hasn't already read the book do so, and anyone who has read the book read it again (it has a much different meaning once you are familiar with the book's universe). It is Chuck Palahniuk's masterpiece and cannot truly be appreciated in any other format.

Jim Ames on Jun 30, 2009

By far my favourite Palahniuk book. I read it twice in a week. All the characters, the way it's written.. beautiful. It'd be really interesting to see how this movie works out. As for who'd play Rant.. I don't know. I never really have a clear picture in my head for any of Palahniuk's characters.

Hilabee on Jul 19, 2009

I would think it interesting to see Heath Ledger (rest in peace) play as Buster. He almost seems impeccably perfect for the role in an eerie way.

alexandre93 on Aug 25, 2009

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