Nerd Alert! Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern Movie Is Actually Happening
In news that might have caused my fifth grade self to break out in an awkward dance of joy, there is actual movement on a long-attempted adaptation of Anne McCaffrey's The Dragonriders of Pern series. X-Men writer David Hayter will reportedly adapt Dragonflight, the first novel in McCaffrey's celebrated book series set on the planet of Pern, where generations of humans form telepathic links with fire-breathing dragons to defend themselves from a deadly enemy known as Thread.
Allow me a moment to geek out over McCaffrey's Pern series, which has been a staple of any sci-fi/fantasy-loving geek kid's personal library for decades. At least, it served as such for me; I spent my youthful days devouring every installment in McCaffrey's 19+ book series (she wrote additional Pern stories with son Todd). Though Hayter is starting with the first novel, originally published in 1968, there are literally generations upon generations of Pernese stories to tell, including more traditionally sci-fi-oriented origin tales. But embarking on this franchise, with its many potential sequels and prequels, should be no small commitment for whichever studios and production companies might eventually come on board.
According to HitFix, Don Murphy and Susan Montford's Angry Films are currently involved and production is slated to begin in early 2012, but there's no director or cast yet attached. And, as a warning to hopeful fans, remember that this is not the first time an attempt has been made to adapt the Pern saga for the screen; before current production company Copperheart Entertainment optioned the rights, The WB was attempting to make a version for television under Ronald D. Moore (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Battlestar Galactica) and had even built Ruatha Hold and Benden Weyr sets before production was halted days before it began.
But with its blend of fantasy, romance, science fiction, and medieval-like setting, Pern is a fictional world rife for cinematic imagining. One would assume CG effects will be involved in the depiction of its dragons, who, bound to their human counterparts at birth, take flight to mate (trust me, it can get pretty hot what with the humans linked psychically on the ground) and fight the spores that rain down periodically upon the world, devouring everything organic in sight. Fans might hope that the adaptation has the budget to cover massive sets and casts on the scale of a Lord of the Rings, WETA-driven production -- or else have a director with a really good workaround plan.
More as it develops... in the meantime, where my Pern fans at? Chime in below.
· X-Men scribe David Hayter will adapt first 'Dragonriders of Pern' novel [HitFix]
[Original cover art by Michael Whelan]
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Comments
Coming across this a little behind, but.. The McCaffrey P.E.R.N. series has such a huge fan base, a screen production (big or small) does not need names or faces - if they build the thing, fans will come ;). This would be a great opportunity for new/unknowns to get their 'breakthrough' chance. And the time would seem to be right as well, look at the plethora of fantasy/scifi that has permeated the media in the past few years alone? The small screen especially (Warehouse 13, True Blood, etc). And not exactly a radical idea - there's enough material to create both a small screen series (sort of a 'life on Pern' weekly) and 'special events' (the actual novels) for the big screen, say once a year. Ambitious much? 😉
I will commit to watching any Dragonriders of Pern movie 8 times in theaters. I really like SciFi, hard, soft, whatever, but this series captured my adolescent heart and will forever have a place in it. Only two things might be better, a Crystal Singer movie or re-boot of Firefly.
I loooooooooooove the books!!! Sooooooooo excited!!!!!!!! Reading "The White Dragon"
It was so sad that it almost did not hatch. Thank goodness Jaxom Impressed him. Can't believe they can fly!!!
Soooooooooooo exited!!!!!!!!!
*Curses fluently*
ASDFGHJKL! I! What? When? How! I have to dig all my books out and read them all again or I will dig a very deep hole and cry endlessly. Please let it all work out. Please! I may not be into Sci-Fi, but this was the only Sci-Fi series I could stomach. Ever. Please, if there is a god! He/She will make this possible. Or I will really cry. Forever. And doodle in the dirt, wishing I had my own fire lizards and my own dragon.
*forever sobbing*
I don't go to the movies much. I will make everyone because I can't wait to see the world of Pern come to life:) The fan base for these books is huge and spans all age groups. Please make this movie.
I am 66 years old, and the stories about the Pernese and their Dragons was one if the best reads I can ever remember. I went to work many a morning bleary eyed and barely awake after making the mistake of trying to read a "few" chapters before bed. I still go back and re- read the series on occasion .
Yes - I am the same way on reading these novels. Can't wait to see the movie
I truly hope that they make this movie, but at the same time, this is one that if they cant do it justice its better left alone. I think one of the reasons that LOTR was so good and so successful is that Jackson was a FAN. He wasnt just making the moving as something to do, it was a labor of love, you could see it in every aspect of the movie, the director of Pern will have to be just as devoted, or it could be a disaster! and I am really hoping to see PERN come to life the way Anne saw it...
Wow! I cant wait for this,I actually just discovered this series a week ago and have already fallen in love with it.Anyone know how to get a part?just as an extra? (lol)(threw in the "N'tan" for a pun if u know the series)
I would love to see PERN as a movie, and even more so now that Anne has gone to join her dragons in that unknown between. We lost Anne on Nov /11
I am sure she would have loved to see PERN come to life on the big screen. (or I could be wrong... I doubt it though). If they do make the movie, I hope they include Todd in it, as he understands PERN almost as well as his mother, enough to the point that he wrote with her.
RIP Anne, we miss you, may you find your dragon in the great between!
I did not know about Her passing away - but her books will live forever.
Nope. Lost her November 21, 2011.
I have just about every book Anne wrote and many written by other authors about Pern. I have lived and breathed Pern for over thirty years. I have waited and wondered when a movie would fially be made about Pern. We have Hogwarts and Middle Earth and Star Wars. It is past time to bring the beauty and realism of Perm to the world. When? It is now February 2012. Please don't make me wait much longer. I'm old enough for social security!
I've been a Pern fan ever since the third grade, though I wasn't aware of it at the time. And the love of the series only sparked to greater standers in my high school days when I was reacquainted with the books. Though I'm only 22 years old at this point in time, the Pern Books written by Anne (Maye she Rest In Peace) have always been my favorites and most inspirational reads on a day to to day basis. I can only HOPE that a movie actually takes off and dream that it does!
I'm already working on my midnight showing rider gear!!!
looks like it is finally coming from between. WEEHEE!!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808236/
Yay! I am so looking forward to seeing this movie. I haven't read the books in years, but read and reread them when I was in high school. This is inspiration. Is anyone else planning on reading them again now?
I'm so excited it's almost pathetic. ^///^
I just hope they do a good enough job that it'll bring in enough new fans for multiple movies. We fans know there's more than enough materiel for them to work with.
When I saw Avatar, I thought, at last, they have the tech and skills to do justice to do the Dragon Riders! It would be a shame to slip back to a lower tech style. No anime Dragons please!
Thank you God! Have been waiting all my life for tecnology to catch up to make the world of Pern come alive. Make it so.
This is such a great story to bring to the big screen. I think that if they use the great technology that is available and actually keep the story line without changing it everyone will be clamoring for more!!
Please Please figure out a decient way to handle mind to mind speak before production begins. What they did with DUNE kinda sucked. I have been reading & rereading the Pern novels for 20 or more years and would be extremely upset if the movie was as badly done as the First Dune movie, the second (remake)wasn't horrable. I truely am a tremendous fan of Ann McCaffry & Frank Herbert & Terry Brooks.
Awesome! I first learned of about Pern in early 2000 while in Germany. I have read many of Ms. McCaffrey's books and have wanted to see them made into movies. Hopefully this time it will really happen. My favorite is "The Dolphins of Pern."
Let the filming begin!!!!! I've read every Pern book and probably most every Anne McCaffrey publication. Her books made into movies could keep me going to the theater for years!!!
GO FOR IT !!! But do it right pleeeaaaassee! No messing with the story and you'll have so many fans it'll hurt (the movie houses that didn't pick it up, mostly) !!! I will personally commit to being there on opening day, and I've never said that about any other movie in my entire lifetime. Plus all the returns to see it again on the big screen. My kids both read the series and are very excited to see it too..how many generations of fans are out there !!! We have waited a long time for special effects to catch up to being worthy of this story so make it good and we will support you totally.
Yes.
Please, yes.
I agree with everyone - PERN via TV or the Big Screen - dream come true. Love Anne and Todd's books - read and re-read them all the time. Could not wait for them to come out in Paperback - have to buy them as soon as they come out in HardBack. Then, cry because I read them in 1-2 days and then have to wait and wait for the next book to come out, well - I actually re-read and re-read them while waiting for the next one. They transport you into this magical world where Dragons and people interact so warmly.
So glad I didn't give up hope. She is my all time favorite author. First editions only when it comes to Pern. Hope the director understands just how high our expectations really are. Each person, each dragon is unique, and some deeply loved.
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