Tom Hanks to Star in Frank Darabont’s Fahrenheit 451?
Director Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) has been talking about doing a new version of Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 for years, and I for one think it’s about time this book got a modern adaptation on the big screen. I’ve never seen François Truffaut’s 1966 version (anyone out there recommend it?) but apparently Darabont isn’t a big fan:
“The Truffaut version was markedly lacking in passion, which was very bizarre to me considering what a passionate book it is. As a literary work it’s a cry from the heart and Truffaut’s film was like paint drying on a stick. I don’t consider this a remake. I’m doing this as an adaptation of a book that’s never been done before, that’s never been made before.” (via)
So it looks like this will be Darabont’s next project after The Mist (which hits theatres this November), and Ain’t It Cool News has the scoop on a juicy casting rumour. According to the report, he will reteam with The Green Mile star Tom Hanks, who has signed on to play the lead role of fireman Guy Montag. Hanks will certainly be a sympathetic enough actor, but if you’re talking about a movie that needs more passion and intensity, I’m not quite convinced that Hanks fits that bill. Either way this is a story that’s still relevant today and I’d love to see it done right. Consider me “cautiously optimistic”.
Comments (4)
Hmmm. Literature … books. Not blogs or i-phones. I wonder if this movie will be as potent as the book was when it came out. I mean haven’t people pretty much quite reading printed books at this point? Will Darabont make it more about information (being that this is the information age and all)? I wonder what temperture a Blackberry burns at?
Posted by Ian on August 7th, 2007Haha good question… apparently Darabont did update the story a little bit, so I’m curious to see how it plays out. I would think most people would still understand that books essentially represent human culture and knowledge in all of its forms… but then again, maybe not? Maybe they should be burning DVDs and video games in order to get the message across to today’s teens.
Posted by Sean on August 7th, 2007I don’t think Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 has any relevance in our information age unless the government decides people can’t have internet access and aren’t permitted to own computers and any recording devices. I think it would be pretty hard for a government to control this. Although realistically, it would have been pretty hard to even ban written literature when the book was written, but I guess Bradbury was being metaphorical.
I’ve seen Truffaut’s version, and it is pretty boring. The thing I remember most is the big flat screen television in a person’s house. Never thought we’d have that in my lifetime.
I was really looking forward to Mel Gibson’s version of this novel.
Posted by Pacifistofury on August 8th, 2007I disagree. I think it’s pretty obvious that the story is a metaphorical one, and as such it has relevance regardless of the circumstances.
If people can’t figure out that burning books represent suppression of freedom of speech and thought, I mean if they honestly went “That’s stupid, I can just read them on the internet. Joke’s on you!”, then they’re pretty much beyond reach no matter what you do to update it.
I like the story, as usual with adaptations you question the need for a film (especially with one already made) but I guess with the current trend of brand recognizability (sp?) it’s no shock.
Speaking of big flat screen televisions though… That was still sci-fi up untill the 90s. Total Recall has it right along with the mutants and the colonization of Mars!
Posted by Henrik on August 8th, 2007Leave a Reply