The Book: Foundation
Synopsis:
For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Sheldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future–to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save mankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire–both scientists and scholars–and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the Galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for a future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation.
But soon the fledgling Foundation finds itself at the mercy of corrupt warlords rising in the wake of the receding Empire. Mankind’s last best hope is faced with an agonizing choice: submit to the barbarians and be overrun–or fight them and be destroyed.
Why It Should Be Adapted:
There are two elements to a property that Hollywood really wants if they’re going to adapt something to the big screen, be it a book, comic book, or video game. First, nothing makes them say “Yes” quicker than being told that they could potentially have a new franchise on their hands. Secondly, and just as important (if not more), is a built-in fan base that will show up opening day for the movie. Let’s use lat year’s John Carter as an example. It had the ability to become a new franchise for Disney. The problem arose when no one came out to see the movie that cost close to $250 million. If no one has ever heard of the book you’re adapting to a movie, you run into some very big trouble. The other books that I’ve listed prior to this would have that problem and so will Isaac Asimov’s Foundation.
There can be twenty books in a series that you can easily adapt into a movie, but if no one shows up to see the first one, then you better believe that the others won’t have a shot at getting made.
The only way that this ever gets made is if a studio believes that name of Isaac Asimov holds some weight with the general audience. I’d like to think that people have heard of his name before in some kind of context and that alone is reason enough to show up. Foundation‘s biggest problem wouldn’t be whether or not it gets made. It’s if it does get made, will people want any part of what it has to offer? Foundation isn’t the most accessible book ever made and it’s hard to get into, even by Sci-Fi standards. Although, if you tell people it’s a classic Sci-Fi novel, maybe that’ll get them to show up. It didn’t exactly work with John Carter, but the success of this would have to rely solely on marketing to get people through the door. Plus, I, Robot got made, so why not this?
Next up: It’s a surprise
Previously: Rendezvous with Rama