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Gavin Hood Now Working on Ender's Game and Might Direct?
by Alex Billington
September 20, 2010
Source: 24 Frames
This could be good news or bad - depends on how much you like Gavin Hood. Even though we reported in January of last year that an adaptation of Orson Scott Card's sci-fi book Ender's Game had been scrapped, apparently the project is live and well. The LA Times' 24 Frames is reporting that Tsotsi and X-Men Origins: Wolverine director Gavin Hood has taken over development on the film and is currently rewriting the script in hopes of eventually directing the adaptation. But of course, this is still in the early stages and it's going to be an uphill battle for them to actually get a greenlight, especially with Card being picky about the director.
24 Frames says Odd Lot Ent. (of The Spirit, Rabbit Hole, Drive) is pushing forward with development on the Ender's Game movie, but nothing is set in stone yet. The version from years ago had Wolfgang Petersen attached as a director, but that fell apart. Author Orson Scott Card told LA Times last year that he "did not feel comfortable with the movie's direction" and rather imagined a "film where the human relationships are absolutely essential — an honest presentation of the story." So is Gavin Hood the best guy to bring that adaptation to life? I'm not really sure, but I definitely don't think it's fair to blame Wolverine's problems all on him, so I say we give him a chance to win us over again, potentially with a blockbuster project like this.
As a recap for anyone who hasn't read the popular novel, Ender's Game is about a world in which humans face a serious threat from an alien race known as the Formics and begin training elite soldiers in response. Against this backdrop comes Andrew Wiggin, also known as Ender, a child who becomes a top-flight solider and helps to save Earth. It tells the "tale of a boy struggling to grow up into someone he can respect while living in an environment stripped of choices." Many consider it one of their favorite novels. I'm very curious to see if this actually comes to fruition with Gavin Hood or if the project falls apart once again. Thoughts?
27 Comments
1
Its risky. I don't know if he's the right man for the job. But hey, maybe he can pull it off.
MonsterKilledThePilot on Sep 20, 2010
2
I just went through the widest range of emotions possible reading this story; I've been waiting for this adaptation for 13 years - Glad that OSC is keeping the reins tight. So excited the movie is in development again! So not excited about Gavin Hood. Tear Marc Webb of spiderman and have him do this movie. Ever better, I'm hoping that Super8 is all a front for this - massive casting for 12 to 13 year olds.... JJ Abrams and Spielberg bringing this to life!!!!! This better be dark and true to the book - not some GI Joe bastardization.
J on Sep 20, 2010
3
wolverine was horrible but i think he has some talent he might be wrong for it he seems lie an indie director not ready for mainstream movies
nelson on Sep 20, 2010
4
I'm with TheCritic28 - rewrite the post minus the spoiler, please.
J on Sep 20, 2010
5
Agreed with the above. That was a huge spoiler. Fortunately, only nerds like us who've read the books would care at this point.
Drewski on Sep 20, 2010
6
dude on the screenshot from the old novel cover looks like megaman from the old nintendo game. just a random thought.
skag_boy on Sep 20, 2010
7
8
Please don't ruin Ender's Game with a bad movie.
Vet4Peace on Sep 20, 2010
9
You just spoiled a huge plot twist in Ender's game. I'd change that if I were you.
TheCritic28 on Sep 20, 2010
10
Give it to Danny Boyle.
Jeremy on Sep 20, 2010
11
To really capture the essence of Ender's Game, you need a better director then Hood. You need a guy who can really bring out good child acting. 10 years ago, I would have said Shamalyan. Now, I can only imagine someone like Speilburg making it, if anyone.
TheCritic28 on Sep 20, 2010
12
we'll see...hoping for the best.
Xerxex on Sep 20, 2010
13
#7 beat me to it oh well time to go play megaman!
DoomCanoe on Sep 20, 2010
14
Ridely Scott would be best to direct the film.
I have no name on Sep 21, 2010
15
8 year olds kill and beat each other in the novel. They have character arces and subtle traits that would make adult actors struggle. The lead villain is not in the foreground for most of the film, and never really clear as a villain. The plot is winding and not strait foreword, and inportant plot arch is a weird metaphysical scenario played out in a computer game with surreal images. The "twist" could be seen as a cheat, and could be shot to hell if turned into a giant battle sequence. It will take a miracle to pull this off, but if they do, instant Best Picture winner.
Geoff on Sep 21, 2010
16
I read the book when I was 12 and I thought it was phenomenal. Gavin Hood may not be the best man for the job. Wolverine had some bad writing, so the project wasn't entirely his fault, but still. I think they should have someone who is familiar with space or big battle sequences. DO NOT RUIN THIS MOVIE!
lamar on Sep 21, 2010
17
@Alex Don't know if Hood is the right fit, since the only film I've seen of his is no doubt his worst, and the one where he had the least creative control (XO:W). However, I agree with the above that there are a lot of subjects and themes in these books that would be extremely hard to put into a movie as they currently are (the kid-on-kid violence, lack of an antagonist, a lot of character study that is reached through playing a video game, etc.). That being the case, I both do and don't want to see an Ender's Game movie. I do because I've read all (but the most recent) Ender, Shadow and Speaker books (all in the same universe), and they are among my favorite works in modern science fiction... but I don't want to see it because I'm almost positive it won't be done well, no matter who is attached. Perhaps it can be made into a palatable film if deviated from the source material, but I'm not sure Card would even allow that.
Drewski on Sep 21, 2010
18
Peter Jackson would make it epic!
Krupz on Sep 21, 2010
19
Read the book. It's a very powerful story, and the fact that the aliens are at war with the humans is merely the background for the story of a kid so smart and successful at playing war games, that he has to struggle with becoming one of the best soldiers ever, by losing any chance of being a normal kid.
Luis M on Sep 21, 2010
20
I've read it about 30 times from when I was a youngin (first book to get me into reading) to last month when I read it and Ender's Shadow in a weekend. It will ALWAYS be in my top 10 favorites. The only problem I have with Gavin Hood is the fact that this story, this character lives in his mind. Ender is a complex person, with way too many hidden conflicts that can't be shown on screen. This is the reason OSC has been so hesitant to really get behind anybody. The scripts never portray the internal conversations he has with himself as well as he wants. And I don't think Gavin has the capacity to delve that deep into the human psyche.
Hedgehog on Sep 21, 2010
21
Absolutely not. This book is a classic, and listening to OSC talk about the trials and tribulations he's spent over the DECADES working towards a movie rendition, this is guy is absolutely wrong for it. Read the story, its an easy read, very well crafted, you will thank those that recommend it (it actually started life as a short for a magazine waaay back in the 70's if memory serves).
mirrth on Sep 21, 2010
22
The plot sounds too much like HALO video game. Fuck this shit. I want my HALO movie.
JoJo on Sep 21, 2010
23
@JoJo It is absolutely nothing like Halo... other than the fact that they both have aliens, and they're at war with humans. You might as well compare Aliens to Star Trek. And if you're the type of person who would make that connection, then this probably isn't your type of movie anyhow.
Drewski on Sep 21, 2010
24
Anyone here see Tsotsi? This dude directed kids trying to cling to humanity in a violent environment. Anyone see a similarity? The movie won an OSCAR with Hood at the helm. Yeah wolverine wasn't a masterpiece, but look at the Genre and the actor. Nothing against Jackman personally, but you only have to watch Australia and Kate & Leopold to realize the dude doesn't exactly have the acting skills. He's an action star. Comics like Wolverine aren't meant to dramatic masterpieces anyhow. IMO, Hood is a good choice. and rent Tsotsi people. Good movie.
gonnarentit on Sep 21, 2010
25
@ 24 :: I will have to pick up Tsotsi. Because if you're right then my argument above is completely null. Ha @ 21 :: You are correct about the short story. Had a completely different name too, can't recall it off the top of my head though.
Hedgehog on Sep 22, 2010
26
Honestly the book was so good and unique that im not sure it should even be made into a movie. For one you would have to have child actors to keep to the heart of the story. Two it would probably have to be more than one movie because you would need his recruitment on earth, then battle school, commander academy, and finally his adventures through space looking for places to colonize. Knowing hollywood they will concentrate a little on battle school and mostly on the "the game" where ender is fighting the buggers and we would end up with just a big space battle movie and there is way more to this story. I think the story should really concentrate on not only enders experiences but also the seperate story line of his brother and sister trying to basically unite earth and his brothers eventual rise. The book has way too much good material to only concentrate on battle school and the war and needs to be more than just a an action movie.
ORionCOmplex on Dec 7, 2010
27
They should have co-directors. Gus van sant for the thinking scenes, since he helped with KIDS (one of the scariest movies ever) as well as goodwill hunting. If he can make aids and math good, he can deal with the intellectual parts. The CGI can be someone else. Film it in England with English actors. Don't make it starship troopers, and no added love scenes.
craig on Jan 2, 2011
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