Denis Villeneuve Eyes a New Hard Sci-Fi Epic Adaptation, ‘Rendezvous with Rama’
Denis Villeneuve already has several sci-fi projects under his belt, and all of them were highly critically acclaimed. His most recent ‘Dune: Part Two’ earned 5 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture nomination, ‘Dune’ released in 2021 earned won 6 Oscars.
Villeneuve is currently in the early stages of development of the second book in the ‘Dune’ series – ‘Dune Messiah’ and it will serve as the sequel to the previous two films.
Now in his most recent interview, Villeneuve admitted that he is eyeing one more sci-fi project, a notable sci-fi epic ‘Rendezvous with Rama.’
Villeneuve said ‘Rendezvous with Rama’ is similar to ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ as it involves astronauts encountering another civilization. Unlike ‘Dune,’ it focuses on realistic, future technology, making it “hard science fiction,” which he’s excited to explore for the first time in his career. He hopes to take on such a project at least once in his life.
“Like ‘2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY’, It’s about astronauts coming into contact with another civilization. It’s an exploration where we engage with technology that could realistically exist in the future, unlike ‘DUNE’, which leans more toward fantasy. For the first time, I’d be able to work on hard science fiction. I’d love to do that at least once in my life.”
‘Rendezvous with Rama’ is a 1973 sci-fi novel by Arthur C. Clarke, set in the 2130s. It follows a group of astronauts who discover a massive cylindrical alien starship, 50 kilometers long and 20 kilometers wide, as it enters our Solar System. The team ventures inside the mysterious spacecraft to explore its strange structures and unlock its secrets, revealing a world filled with advanced technology and unanswered questions.
The book is celebrated as a classic in science fiction, winning prestigious awards like the Hugo and Nebula. It also inspired sequels, co-written by Clarke and Gentry Lee, which expanded on the mysterious universe introduced in the original novel.
In the early 2000s, Morgan Freeman wanted to produce a movie based on ‘Rendezvous with Rama’ through his company, Revelations Entertainment. David Fincher was attached as director, but the project faced funding issues and script challenges, keeping it in “development hell” for years. Freeman repeatedly expressed his commitment to the project, even hoping to play Commander Norton, but struggles to find a strong script delayed progress.
In 2021, it was announced that Denis Villeneuve would direct the film, with Freeman and Lori McCreary still involved as producers. As of now, Villeneuve is working on the script, moving the long-awaited project forward.
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