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Moby Dick ... IN SPACE!

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (12)

Moby-Dick-3.jpg

It is an iron law of the universe that every story could be improved by being set in space. Even the Justin Bieber movie would be tolerable, because in space no one can hear him sing. This law becomes even more powerful with classic stories, if only because their authors could not have foreseen the power of the space setting in their own time. So it is with gleeful pleasure that I tell you that we are getting Moby Dick … IN SPACE!. Oh, they’re not actually calling the project that, but that’s how they’re selling it to us, it’s their short hand description.

Lynne Ramsay, director of Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar, and We Need to Talk About Kevin is tackling the project next. So she’s got some cred with dark and depressing stories, if not science fiction in particular. Here’s what she says about the project:

This is really the first time I’ve spoken about, it’s been very under wraps. It’s more or less inspired by ‘Moby Dick,’ which is a fantastic novel, an American classic, but funnily enough a lot of people haven’t read it. So I’m working on something loosely based on that. And it’s science-fiction, so we’re taking the premise into the galaxy. So we’re creating a whole new world, and a new alien. A very psychological piece, mainly taking place in the ship, a bit like ‘Das Boot,’ so it’s quite claustrophobic.

Well I think the part of the book that undoes most people is the endless pages of detailed description of this part or another of the whaling boat. But being rather taken with science fiction, I would find endless pages of technical description about the workings of a spaceship to be fascinating. So in terms of film, this is going to need to be a documentary to really get it right.

No word yet on which role will be played by Patrick Stewart, or whether Starbuck will be a man or a woman.

(source: SlashFilm)









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Comments

I hate to burst Lynne Ramsay's bubble, but does she realize that the whole space whale big adventure that takes place claustrphobically in the space ship has been done, and quite well at that? It's called Doctor Who.

Posted by: PaddyDog at October 26, 2011 10:13 AM

Futurama did it.
Also, didn't Danny Glover do a Moby Dick 3000 or something like that?

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at October 26, 2011 10:37 AM

I thought they already made this movie. It's called The Wrath Of Khan

Posted by: ThatsHow EyeRoll at October 26, 2011 10:38 AM

My biggest problem with Moby Dick the novel was the seemingly endless section describing different types of whales. The only reason I bought the book in the first place was to explain to my English major room mate why the Sea Captain on The Simpsons saying "Call me back Ishmael." was funny. He didn't know that the first line in the book is "Call me Ishmael." So, bought a copy, showed him the line, started reading it, never finished it.

Basically what I'm saying is, it's ridiculous that it's 7º Celsius outside, and I have the window open and 2 fans on to maintain the temperature at 25º Celsius in my edit suite.

Posted by: Groundloop at October 26, 2011 10:45 AM

I made myself read "Moby Dick" and was surprised that it's pretty good. Of course, I'm weird for enjoying endless descriptions of whaling ships, but it was also funny in some passages.

Posted by: , at October 26, 2011 10:46 AM

I started reading Moby Dick the night before the essay was due. I stopped attending my American Lit class when I became embarrassed that the essay was so overdue. Because I was an otherwise good student, the prof told assumed I had been sick and told me to take my time. I handed it in 31 days late and got an A-.

Oh, the movie? Whatever. Now back to the book -

"All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. But in each event—in the living act, the undoubted deed—there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask. If man will strike, strike through the mask! How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall? To me, the white whale is that wall, shoved near to me. Sometimes I think there's naught beyond. But 'tis enough. He tasks me; he heaps me; I see in him outrageous strength, with an inscrutable malice sinewing it. That inscrutable thing is chiefly what I hate; and be the white whale agent, or be the white whale principal, I will wreak that hate upon him. Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me."

That sh*t is awesome. I really should read it properly some time.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at October 26, 2011 11:34 AM

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was, at the very least, inspired by Moby Dick. Quotes from the book are found throughout the movie and Khan is very, very Ahab-like.

Posted by: RudeMorgue at October 26, 2011 12:49 PM

...and Futurama did it pretty effing well, too.

Posted by: Jerry at October 26, 2011 1:15 PM

I read the title and thought it must be another instant SyFy classic!

Posted by: Dingle Berry at October 26, 2011 1:47 PM

pinnochio already did it in '65, with literally, a space whale:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186449/

it is a TOTALLY AWESOME movie!

Posted by: idleprimate at October 26, 2011 3:41 PM

Star Trek, the original series, also did it in "The Doomsday Machine" in 1967.

Posted by: Trevorsmom at October 26, 2011 9:13 PM

There's already an anime about this (Hakugei).

Posted by: capitainejanvier at October 27, 2011 4:31 AM