‘Fahrenheit 451’ Movie Coming From HBO Films And ‘99 Homes’ Director Ramin Bahrani
Whether you’re a grownup who readRay Bradbury’sFahrenheit 451in high school and loved it, or a current student who tends to watch movie adaptations at the last minute instead of actually cracking open the book, HBO Films has good news for you. They’ve put into development a newFahrenheit 451movie, setting99 HomeshelmerRamin Bahranito direct.
Deadlinereports Bahrani will not only direct but also write and executive produce theFahrenheit 451movie.Alan GasmerandPeter Jaysenare also producing. There’s no word yet about casting, or when the film might air.Fahrenheit 451was previously adapted into feature film by François Truffaut in 1966, with Oskar Werner and Julie Christie in the lead roles. For the past several years there have been on-again, off-again efforts to launch another movie adaptation; Frank Darabontwas involvedat one point.
Bradbury’s literary classic takes place in a dystopian world (yes, youngsters, we olds were into dystopias long beforeThe Hunger Gameswas even a twinkle in Suzanne Collins' eye) in which books have been outlawed. Our protagonist is Guy Montag, a “fireman” whose job is to burn any contraband books. But after meeting an unusual young woman named Clarisse, he begins to question his mission and the rules of society itself. Though published in 1953, at the height of the McCarthy era,Fahrenheit 451’s themes of dissent, censorship, and the power of knowledge have never stopped being relevant. Ironically,Fahrenheit 451is itselffrequently banned or challengedin American schools thanks in part to its coarse language.
Bahrani built a strong reputation for himself in the indie world with films likeMan Push CartandChop Shop. His profile has grown in recent years withAt Any Priceand99 Homes, which teamed him with bigger stars — Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron in the former and Michael Shannon and Andrew Garfield in the latter. His best films bristle with intelligence and empathy, so he should make a pretty great fit for Bradbury’s masterpiece.
