I am – Hercules!!


A big-screen version of Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation” trilogy is now in the hands of Sony and writer-director-producer Roland Emmerich (“Stargate,” “Independence Day,” “Godzilla,” “The Patriot,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” “10,000 B.C.”).

Which is slightly weird, because we were hearing back in July that “Last Mimzy” mastermind Robert Shaye and longtime lieutenant Michael Lynne, who together ran New Line, were working on the project for Warner Bros. (The idea, presumably, was the New Line vets could oversee the sci-fi epic because they did such a bang-up job giving Peter Jackson money to make the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.)

Warners, which lost its rights to the project, was hoping to put Alex Proyas, who directed both the fine “Dark City” and the disappointing “I, Robot,” in charge.

Emmerich’s not the worst choice; I liked “Stargate” and “Independence Day” and loved “The Patriot." He's amazing with sci-fi visuals. But I can't say there aren't a lot of filmmakers I would have preferred (the guys who directed the first three "Alien" movies leap to mind). My confidence in the project, I suppose, will largely hinge on the announcement of who will be authoring the "Foundation" screenplay.

Variety describes:

Originally published as a series of eight short stories in Astounding Magazine beginning in 1942, "Foundation" is a complex saga about humans who are scattered on planets throughout the galaxy, living under the rule of the Galactic Empire. A psycho-historian who can scientifically read the future sees an imminent empire collapse, and sets to work preparing to save the knowledge of mankind.

"I, Robot," an Asimov collection of stories also conceived during World War II (and set in the same universe as the "Foundation" trilogy) finally (sort of) hit the big screen in 2004.

Find all of Variety’s story on the matter here.