It’s a good time to be a science-fiction fan. On top of the high profile films from the genre being released this year a lot of sci-fi books have had their screen rights acquired recently.
Deadline has an exclusive that Paramount Pictures has picked up the rights to “Nexus” by author Ramez Naam. The project will be produced through Darren Aronofsky‘s banner company Protozoa as well as the company Disruption (GODZILLA 2014.) There are currently talks to have Ari Handel and Mark Heyman work on the script for the adaptation. Both have worked with Darren Aronofsky before: Handel helped co-write NOAH and Heyman wrote BLACK SWAN. At this time there’s no news if Aronofsky will be directing the film or just producing it.
“Nexus” is about:
A young technologist becomes the first person to invent controllable nanotechnology software for the brain. He then becomes an unwilling pawn in an international battle to control the new technology, chased by mercenaries and government agents looking to make enhancements of their own.
“Nexus” was released last year to outstanding reviews. Ramez Naam knows what he’s talking about when it comes to nanotechnology. The author use to be the CEO of Apex Nanotechnology and wrote the nonfiction book “More Than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement.” Naam also helped develop software products like Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook.
Even if Darren Aronofsky doesn’t end up directing this I’m still very interested in the project. Naam sounds like an incredibly intelligent person and it’ll be really interesting to see his views on nanotechnology and where he thinks the world is heading with biological enhancements.