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Variety.com is reporting that Brad Pitt is being pegged to star in The Odysseey, based on the epic Greek masterpiece written by Homer. While he hasn’t officially signed on, Warner Bros. is setting it up in the hopes of having George Miller directing, Plan B producing, and Brad Pitt in the lead role of Odysseus.
I think that this could be a really great idea except for one thing. WB has decided they won’t exactly be following the original story of The Odyssey, which follows Odysseus’ torturous journey home from Troy, a trip that takes years and leads him into dangers like Sirens, a Cyclops, and Hades. Instead, they’re adapting the story and setting it in a futuristic space story.
WHY? Why would they do that? The Odyssey is a brilliant piece of literature packed full of adventure and excitement. It most certainly does not need to be set in outer space in the future – Ancient Greek mythology is perfectly adrenaline-pumping all on its own. I’m wondering how Brad Pitt will feel about the adaptation. I know he reads a great deal in constant search for good movie ideas and having already done a film like Troy, I have trouble picturing him agreeing to do this total upheaval of The Odyssey. I guess time will tell, and if he does film it, I’ll watch it out of curiosity, but in all honesty, everything inside of me is cringing at the thought of such an incredible and ridiculously huge change in the original story.
What do you think?
(Thanks for the link, Ligaya!)
Troy was a box office failure in the U.S. but a huge success overseas. The bean counters count it as a win, even if it didn’t get any awards. Nowadays, the international box office brings in a lot more money than the domestic b.o. And studios keep that in mind – e.g. how will it play in China?
I think adapting it in futuristic terms would bring in a bigger crowd. Troy was a box office failure. Not enough Greek mythology fans.
I would kinda be dissapointed to see such great and classic literature be set in the future. I’m not a huge fan of sci-fi. But I would watch Brad or Angelina in anything.
Think we have to sit back and watch and see if Brad would do this. It appears to me that he can pick and chose what he wants to do now.
UNDER MOD: SarahC, that’s a great idea – especially since . . .
SarahC, that’s a great idea – especially since they won’t have too many scenes together and one of them will always be with the kids.
Brad was beautiful in Troy, but a lot of people thought he was miscast – I think that was one of the movies he apologized to the critics for not too long ago. I love Greek mythology and ancient Greek literature too. Didn’t Shakespeare draw a lot from them also? Whether I like an adaptation depends on how well it’s done (sometimes different time periods, locations). I’ve seen lots of Greek myths, Shakespeare plays, Jane Austen, operas, movies – I’ve loved all the originals, some of the adaptations I loved, others not. When I read about the Odyssey in Space, I thought of Forbidden Planet as an adaptation of the Tempest – I don’t know how closely it adhered to the original, but I loved the movie. O Brother, Where Art Thou is at least partly/loosely based on the Odyssey. I liked Kiss Me Kate as much as Taming of the Shrew, loved Orfeo Negro/Black Orpheus.
I am a Greek Mythology Freak, but maybe just maybe if the script is a good one it just might work. And if AJ signs on as the long awaiting spouse if could be most interesting. What do you think????
Oh this is disturbing. Greek mytholoy is my favorite literature but as a true fan, I will watch and support.
another movie – wow. :)
i loved him in troy. he was so hot there.
I say the imagination can be a great thing…honestly, Troy was not one of Brad’s best pieces, he might surprise us and be really great in an outter space picture. I feel Brad is just now coming into his own in the superior acting world and the pics he’s done in the last two to three years are fabulously acted! He’s gonna get an Oscar one of these days … the big one no doubt. I love some of his gutsy outta a character moves he’s made lately. You go Brad!
It could be interesting… I’m picturing Troy crossover with Star Wars.
i LOVE the original Odysse…changing it that much (with all due respect) sucks. IMO and i would never watch that! the problem is, that the Odysse takes place after Troy so Brad as Achilles (:)) is already dead. seeing him as Odysses would be kinda weird-i would rather see the actor who played Odysses in the movie TRoy do the movie Odysses as the lead role. a futuristic space story……that honesty sucks…although i am a big Star Trek fan i would rather not see an Odysse story in space.