Updated info on Apple's project to adapt Isaac Asimov's Foundation series to TV

[Pluvious]

So much great SF content these days, and more coming !!

Apple has given a straight-to-series order for an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s acclaimed science fiction Foundation trilogy after picking up the show for development earlier this spring.

In April, Deadline reported that Apple was developing an adaptation of the series, which adds to the company’s growing list of original content offerings as it seeks to compete with the likes of Netflix, Amazon, and Disney. The initial order for the show is 10 episodes.

The show comes from David S. Goyer (Batman Begins, Man of Steel) and Josh Friedman (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and the upcoming Snowpiercer TV show), who began work on the project last year with Skydance Television. The studio also worked on this year’s Netflix series Altered Carbon. The project is potentially huge for Apple: the novels are incredibly popular reads, and have served as a (forgive me) foundational basis for a number of other science fiction stories, such as Star Wars.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/11/17223728/apple-foundation-trilogy-isaac-asimov-tv-show-david-goyer-josh-friedman

[Lochloosa]

1. Should be required reading. I just hope they don't screw it up.

[Pluvious]

3. It is encouraging that their adaptation of Altered Carbon was well done (IMHO)

Combined with the things that can be done with CGI these days...

Here's to hoping !!

[lark]

4. So right.

I read this series decade ago and still love Asimov for it. Hope they don't dumb it down too much!!

[Sancho]

2. I read these about the time them came out (late 60s-early 70s)...

and I always thought they would be difficult to put into a movie. If you ask statistics professors who Hari Seldon is, they all seem to know!

[Pluvious]

5. That's a funny anecdotal observation

And I too read them WAY back then, but was definitely too young to fully appreciate them.

Hopefully this production will bring more fans on board

[Sancho]

9. The modern (and real) Hari Seldon...

https://www.chronicle.com/article/In-Ian-Morriss-Big-History/137415

In the summer of 2011, Ian Morris gave what most of his fellow classics professors would consider an unusual talk. The setting: CIA headquarters. The subject: humanity's future.

[Pluvious]

14. That was an interesting piece, thanks for sharing

I've read a bit on this topic, plus of course many SF takes on our future (or inevitable demise heh).

My personal beliefs are it's unlikely we'll grow up in time to have a long future.

I like his "Morris Theorem:"

Social behavior boils down to the "Morris Theorem": "Change is caused by lazy, greedy, frightened people looking for easier, more profitable, and safer ways to do things." These people are much the same everywhere. Their societies develop along similar paths. Geography explains different outcomes. "Maps, not chaps," as Morris likes to say.

[sl8]

10. More like 40s/50s for the first trilogy. n/t

[Sancho]

12. Yes, they were published earlier...

I read the original series in the 60s.

[caraher]

16. Krugman was inspired by Seldon

"I didn't grow up wanting to be a square-jawed individualist or join a heroic quest; I grew up wanting to be Hari Seldon, using my understanding of the mathematics of human behaviour to save civilisation."

[Sancho]

17. Cool...I had never heard that...

very interesting.

[Pluvious]

6. One of my favorite Asimov quotes...

Never been more true than today !!

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.

-Isaac Asimov 1980

[Aristus]

7. I'm wondering why it took so long.

There is a huge demand for long-form science-fiction franchises for film and television. I can't believe they just stumbled over 'Foundation' recently.

And BTW, with regard to the huge concurrent demand for long-form fantasy, why hasn't anyone adapted Michael Moorcock's 'Elric' saga for HBO or something? If Games Of Thrones is popular, an Elric series would likely go through the roof.

[Lochloosa]

8. A lot of times it comes down to who owns the production rights.

They could have been bought years ago and were just asking too much money for them.

[MicaelS]

11. I would love to see some of Niven's and Pournelle's works.

And Niven's Ringworld saga. I don't give a damn about their politics, I just love their works.

[Pluvious]

13. Well guess what ?!!

Not only do we have Jeff Bezos to thank for saving The Expanse but also...

Amazon Developing ‘Ringworld’, ‘Lazarus’ & ‘Snow Crash’ In Genre Series Push

Amazon has set up three high-profile drama series for development: Ringworld, based on Larry Niven’s classic science fiction book; Lazarus, based on the comic book by Greg Rucka (Jessica Jones); and Snow Crash, based on Neal Stephenson’s cult novel.

https://deadline.com/2017/09/ringworld-lazarus-snow-crash-amazon-genre-drama-series-push-1202179073/

[FSogol]

15. Wow, Ringworld! When will be see stuff by Roger Zelazny, Jack Vance, and Jack Chalker? n/t