Just when we thought Denis Villeneuve would be staying on Arrakis for the foreseeable future, the director of Dune has signed on to bring another beloved sci-fi classic to life. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Villeneuve will helm a film adaptation of Rendezvous With Rama, based on the novel by 2001: A Space Odyssey writer Arthur C. Clarke.
Clarke originally published Rendezvous With Rama in 1973. The novel takes place in the year 2131 and follows a team of astronauts who blast off into space to study an alien starship flying through the solar system. They name the starship “Rama” after the Hindu god, believing it will lead to humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrials.
Rendezvous With Rama marks Villeneuve’s latest collaboration with Alcon Entertainment, which also financed Prisoners and Blade Runner 2049. Alcon CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove will produce the movie after acquiring the rights to Clarke’s novel from Morgan Freeman. Freeman is also producing the film through his Revelations Entertainment banner alongside Lori McCreary.
RELATED: Denis Villeneuve Reveals When Dune: Part Two Could Start Filming
It’s anyone’s guess as to when Villeneuve will find the time to start working on the film. As far as we know, he still plans on tackling Dune: Part Two next. Regardless, there has been some conflicting information about when the sequel will actually get underway. Villeneuve previously claimed that production won’t begin until next fall. However, Dune producer Mary Parent later confirmed a July 2022 start date. Villeneuve is also directing HBO Max’s Dune: The Sisterhood spinoff and recently expressed interest in adapting Dune Messiah as well.
“This is one of the most intelligent works of fiction in the genre,” said Johnson and Kosove. “It poses as many questions as it does answers, and is a work for our time. It’s perfectly fitted to our friend and collaborator Denis’ brilliant sensibilities and specifically to his love and passion for science fiction. We are also pleased to work with Morgan and Lori, who have a long-standing passion for this IP.”
Are you excited to see what Villeneuve does with Rendezvous With Rama? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Rendezvous With Rama
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