Moby Dick To Get A Sci-Fi Makeover Via Lynne Ramsay
As far as classic properties getting worked over by Hollywood are concerned, Moby Dick is one I can get behind. Modernizing this classic story of man vs. beast, the ultimate story of revenge, just feels like it will work, and director Lynne Ramsay agrees.
While Ramsay was promoting her festival darling We Need To Talk About Kevin she hinted that Moby Dick would be her next project. Speaking with BBC Radio (via First Showing), Ramsay let drop that not only would she be putting a new spin on Herman Melville’s classic, she’ll send the story to space with a hard sci-fi adaptation.
Like the novel, this new version was supposed to take place on just one vessel, though with any luck the film won’t spend half it’s run time describing the ship in excruciating details like the book does. It’s still early in the process, but here is Ramsay’s take on what she wanted to do with her film:
It’s another monster movie, cos [sic] the monster’s Ahab. For a filmmaker, it’s really interesting, because it’s about this mad captain taking everyone on this crazy journey to their death, from his need to revenge. Making a film is like a crazy journey, and sometimes you go into dark waters, and you see some casualties along the way. It’s fascinating stuff, because there’s so much in it.
She wrote a script but also was planning on using new technology to put together a trailer and mood boards to help flush out exactly what she wants to do with the story.
Sadly, Ramsay’s take on Moby Dick never made it to the screen and eventually she moved on to other projects.
