Ridley Scott Eyeing Brave New World Movie

I will go ahead and admit it right now: when it comes to classic sci-fi literature, I’m hopelessly out of my league. Most of my sci-fi IQ dates to science fiction movies, and a few scattered sci-fi books here and there, but nothing on the scale that I could tell you what Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” was about off the top of my head. But apparently a lot of people know about it and love it, and with the rights to the film seemingly settled, it now appears as if the movie version is finally moving forward — with Ridley Scott eyeing the director’s chair and no other than Leonardo DiCaprio eyeing the leading role.

Universal Studios has been trying to make the film for years but according to the Times Online, the studio’s wrangling over the terms of Huxley’s will have finally been settled and the long dormant project is finally moving ahead. Visionary director Ridley Scott has long been interested in directing the project and according to the article, the film has yet another big name championing for it: Leonardo DiCaprio who will play the key role of John the Savage.

Here’s more about the novel from Amazon.com:

“Community, Identity, Stability” is the motto of Aldous Huxley’s utopian World State. Here everyone consumes daily grams of soma, to fight depression, babies are born in laboratories, and the most popular form of entertainment is a “Feelie,” a movie that stimulates the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Though there is no violence and everyone is provided for, Bernard Marx feels something is missing and senses his relationship with a young woman has the potential to be much more than the confines of their existence allow. Huxley foreshadowed many of the practices and gadgets we take for granted today–let’s hope the sterility and absence of individuality he predicted aren’t yet to come.

More of a intellectual sci-fi than an action one, I would imagine from the descriptions I’m hearing. Not exactly my cup of tea, but it’s a classic for a reason, right?