Like most Americans, I didn’t see ATLAS SHRUGGED PART 1, the unsuccessful adaptation of the controversial Ayn Rand novel. The film opened last April and brought in $4.6 million. True, it only cost about $10 or $20 million but that’s still a meager total.
After the failure of the first film, most assumed the two planned sequels wouldn’t happen. Well that’s apparently not the case. Producers announced today that ATLAS SHRUGGED PART 2 is in fact moving forward. Better yet, the film will debut in October in hopes of swaying the upcoming presidential election. Okay, sure.
The first trailer for the film doesn’t reveal much. It doesn’t mention anything about the cast and crew. That’s because the entire team has changed since the last film. Directing this time is Duncan Scott, the man who made a three hour long Rand adaptation WE ARE THE LIVING back in 1986. As to the cast, no news yet.
I won’t get into the politics of Ayn Rand (hint: I’m not a fan) but I can talk about the peculiar situation the producers are in. Obviously the people funding ATLAS SHRUGGED are more interested in pushing a political message than making a successful film. Still, the first film wasn’t able to attract many aside from the die-hard Rand fans. In other words, it was preaching to the choir. They must have hoped for more. Will the second film get more promotion, more theaters? Will its release date bring in more viewers? Will the movie actually start an Objectivist revolution?
Yeah, probably not.
Here’s the trailer:
I hope they keep the same cast too … except that I heard rumors that they were NOT going to be keeping Jsu Garcia as Francisco d’Anconia … which I think is a complete mistake. I’d love to know what others thought of his portrayal??
I work with Jsu and just loved him as Francisco. I hope they reconsider.
And on a positive note, Jsu is currently starring in a film which premieres March 8th – The Wayshower, at the ArcLight Cinerama Dome. It’s a free screening, open to everyone. Jsu is fantastic in this, together with Oscar nominees Eric Roberts and Sally Kirkland. http://bit.ly/PRINTICKETws .
He co-wrote and co-directed The Wayshower with his long time spiritual teacher and friend Dr. John-Roger. The result is one of the most inspiring and life-changing films. Like the first time I read the Fountainhead (sorry but it’s my favorite), it changed the way I saw myself and the world, and inspired me into greater responsibility and bigger dreams. The Wayshower is a similar game changer. Completely changed the commitment I have to myself, the commitment to living my life for me, and showed me how important it is not to live according to our doubts and fears, but to our love and vision.