As influential as Ray Bradbury's seminal sci-fi novel FAHRENHEIT 451 is, it's surprising how there haven't been many (especially recent) adaptations of it. The only one of note was François Truffaut's 1966 version which had a very mixed response – at best. There were some projects that came close (like one starring Tom Hanks and directed by Frank Darabont a few years back), but they all ended up burning in the ether. However, that all may have been for the best, as the newest adaptation – starring Michael B. Jordan as main character Montag and Michael Shannon as his mentor Beatty – is coming to HBO, and sounds awesome.
If you somehow don't know the plot of FAHRENHEIT 451, it's set in a dystopian future where Firemen no longer extinguish fires, but instead burn books. That's because they live in a society that has been dumbed down by excess TV, pill-popping, and numb reactions to war and emotions. This changes when one Fireman (Guy Montag, played by Jordan) reads a book, and struggles to regain his humanity in a sterile world.
And none other than Sofia Boutella – next seen in next weekend's THE MUMMY reboot – is in talks to join the cast. She'd be playing, according to Variety: "Clarisse, an informant caught between the competing interests of Montag and Beatty."
It's been awhile since I've read the book, but this looks like a repurposing of the character from the novel. In there, Clarisse is simply a young 17-year old who is precocious and innocent, and is the one who gets Montag into books, which then leads to him questioning his views and world. However, (SPOILER FOR A 64 YEAR OLD BOOK) she dies within the first act. So aging the character up, and making her more intrinsic to the plot seems to be a major – but possibly welcome – change. Honestly, it was kind of creepy how the older (married) Montag seemed to treat and describe her. It's probably for the best in the long run.
Anyway, anyone else excited for this adaptation? Either way, sound off below!
Meanwhile, you can next see Boutella in the upcoming THE MUMMY on June 9th.