Marc Forster endured a lot of blame during the production woes on WORLD WAR Z only for the movie to end up being a box office success with $540 million worldwide gross. Regardless, Forster will not be returning for the sequel to that film, but he does have a major project coming next: the adaptation of the recently published RED RISING.
If you are wondering what the heck RED RISING is, it won’t be long before you hear about it everywhere. The debut novel from 26-year-old Pierce Brown is being hailed as the next HARRY POTTER or HUNGER GAMES. Yes, it is considered a young adult novel, but the science fiction novel has already been acclaimed by the likes of author Terry Brooks and the New York Times. Author Brown was given a three book deal with predictions having RED RISING as the biggest book of the year.
Universal won the bidding war for the adaptation in a seven figure deal. Brown himself wrote the screenplay for the movie which will be produced by Joe Roth (ALICE IN WONDERLAND).
The tale takes place on desolate Mars, where the protagonist is caught in a class system that thrives on oppression and secrecy. He is a Red, the lowest member of society, born to toil in the bowels of the planet in service to the sovereign Golds. When Darrow suffers a devastating loss and betrayal he becomes a revolutionary, out to bring about social justice. Questions of fate, duality, and loyalty, evolve in a cruel test of war between the sons and daughters of the ruling elite.
The themes of RED RISING seem to be in line with THE HUNGER GAMES, but the Mars setting will provide a unique twist to it. Universal is likely going to be going all in for the budget on this one, so expect Marc Forster to have a lot of room to create this alien world. RED RISING is on my list of books to read and because of this I may have to bump it to the top of the list. There is no production date or release information for the movie, but it will be Forster’s next movie, so expect it next year at the earliest.