Paul Greengrass is attached to direct an adaptation of George Orwell's classic novel, 1984. Published in 1949, the story is set in a dystopian future run by a tyrannical government with omnipresent surveillance capabilities: "Big Brother is watching you." According to Deadline, Scott Rudin (Captain Phillips) and Gina Rosenblum will produce. James Graham will write the script.
I love the book and can't wait to see what Greengrass does with the material. Greengrass is a natural fit for 1984 with his demonstrated skepticism of the powers that be. The timing is right for another 1984 adaptation, given the current political climate surrounding surveillance. I bet the filmmakers will reconfigure the setting so it's in the future, but it would be interesting if they instead opted for a more literal adaptation with an alternate-timeline 1984. Read the book synopsis after the jump.
In 1984, London is a grim city where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be. [Amazon]