Angelina Jolie to film Atlas Shrugged
Angelina Jolis is to start recording the cult-classic Atlas Shrugged, said to be one of the most controversial books in Modern lit. The book was written by Ayn Rand, and the screenply is being written by Randall Wallace (who also wrote Braveheart). The film is being financially backed by Lion’s Gate Entertainment.
Atlas Shrugged is “a passionate defence of Rand’s belief that the world is best served when individuals act entirely in their own rational self-interest”. Because this movie roughly translates to they acted selfishly it has been given the loverly nickname of ‘the bible of selfishness’. The book has sold six million copies since it was published in 1957.
The plot is “hardly conventional” but still contains the dramatic incidents thatappeal to a big-budget Hollywood movie-maker. ‘That is part of her genius. It is actually also a really good story,’ said David Kelley, founder of the Ayn Rand Institute and a script consultant for the film.
Jolie has been a fan of Any Rand for a long time, and the character of Taggart “would seem to have a lot in common with Jolie’s image as a defier of conventions. Jolie is also rare in Hollywood in that she convincingly plays action characters but has kept her status as a sex symbol. Taggart is a strong character who is as good as a man. It is a great role for a Hollywood actress,’ said Kelley. Movie insiders say it was Jolie who sought out the film’s backers. ‘She has the book. It is not a passing thing for her. She has a real interest in Rand and her way of thinking.” said one film executive .
January 29th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
I’m soooo excited for this–I’m a huge rand fan myself (as well as an angelina jolie fan)! The episode of her on Inside the Actor’s Studio was on today, so I’m featuring it on my blog tomorrow morning–check it out if you’re interest
August 12th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
[...] could serve as Angelina’s return film after her maternity leave. There are also noises that Atlas Shrugged could be in the works sooner rather. Rumors have long suggested that Angelina and Brad are both being courted to star in the film. I [...]