Ah, Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game”. What sci-fi geek hasn’t read the novel while growing up? I know I did, and I barely knew how to read when I picked up a copy of the novel. As a result of having read the novel as a kid, I’m not sure how I feel about making a movie out of it. Could it work? Should they even try? Well they’re trying, and have been, but no one in Hollywood has managed to get the movie actually made, which may be a good or a bad thing depending on your point of view. And now, the latest news is that attached director Wolfgang Peterson has “moved on” from the project.

The boys at io9 has more:

You can forget your dreams of a Das Boot/Enemy Mine-style version of Orson Scott Card’s classic novel Ender’s Game. Director Wolfgang Petersen, previously attached to the project, has moved on, producers tell io9. Chartoff Productions is busy meeting with a slew of potential directors for the Ender’s movie, which they hope will start filming by early 2009. But who will play child prodigy Ender?

Producer Lynn Hendee was mum on possible casting for the movie’s lead role. “We all have our favorites, but it is crucial for the new director to weigh in on that.” But she did reveal that author Card has finished a draft of the script and is “already working to make it even better.” Hendee predicts that much of the film will be shot on a sound stage. “Ender’s Game requires an extended pre-production due to the many visual effects.” And by visual effects we hope they mean shooting the off-the-wall battle school zero gravity scenes. Who would you pick for child commander/war lord Ender?

So there you go. Without a big name director, the movie will now return to languishing in developmental hell where it’s been for ages. Sorry, Ender, I guess you’re just not destined to make it to the big screens, kid. Better luck next … decade?

Then again, should they even make a movie out of this thing? I’m still not sure…

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