Sure, Atlas Shrugged Part 2 Sounds Like a Great Idea

Fun fact: Legendary philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand shared a birthday with Groundhog Day -- a curious coincidence hinting that Punxatawney Phil guaranteed more than just six added weeks of winter when he saw his shadow Thursday. How about two more years of Atlas Shrugged adaptations?

Listen, I know that doesn't really make any sense but it's Friday and my brain aches and what the hell am I supposed to do with this news just in over the Movieline transom anyway:

Atlas Productions, LLC announced today that Atlas Shrugged Part 2, the second installment of the Atlas Shrugged movie trilogy, has been officially greenlit with principal photography to begin this coming April in Los Angeles, Colorado, and New York.

Based on Ayn Rand’s (Feb. 2 1905 - Mar. 6 1982) 1957 novel, ATLAS SHRUGGED is set in the near future when a dystopian United States finds its leading innovators, from industrialists to artists, mysteriously disappearing at an alarming rate resulting in the “stopping the motor of the world." [...]

Rand’s 1,100 page novel is being produced by Atlas Productions as a trilogy which follows the three part structure of the bestselling book. Part 1 was released theatrically on April 15, 2011. Part 2 is set to be in theaters October 2012 amidst what is sure to be a fever pitched presidential election season.

“It’s no coincidence that we chose Ayn Rand’s Birthday as the occasion to make this announcement. We have high aspirations for Part 2. We’ve looked carefully at Part 1 and taken time to analyze and reexamine everything from the script to the casting. John and I are committed to making a great Part 2 and excited about what lies ahead,” according to Producer Harmon Kaslow.

For the record, the first installment of Atlas Shrugged grossed $4.6 million theatrically on a reported (read: clearly overinflated) $20 million budget, prompting even such knob-polishing deans of blurb whoredom as Peter Travers to gripe: "Ayn Rand's monumental 1,168-page, 1957 novel gets the low-budget, no-talent treatment and sits there flapping on screen like a bludgeoned seal."

Anyway, here's a teaser. Mark your calendars!

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Comments

  • Andrew says:

    Who else is excited for this?!

    Whooo...

    No one. That's who.

    • Patrick Hallstein says:

      Close enough, I think Andrew, for dead Galt to have heard your query and judged it sacrilege -- and, believe me , this is worth your concern for he's a top-of-the-line revenant. And don't hope to find easy sanctuary in any building, however blessed: he's got an able bud who'll make short woark of any of that!

    • Ana Sofia GU. says:

      I am !I read the whole entire Atlas Shrugged book by Ayn Rand in High School. The book is much more detailed than the movie. Nevertheless the movie was phenomenal and it still brought an excellent message However (I recommend to read the book too). Ayn Rand truly supports Capitalism and talks about the importance of hard work to earn your goals in life. The only thing that I happen to disagree is that the book focuses on how "society" cannot survive, without the "existence" of a few business talented men such as the mysterious man Gault, Rearden ect (that does not mean am saying that there accomplishments didn't improve society but what am trying to bring about is that I believe every one of us has the capability to succeed is in each person)- not only "a few people" like Ayn Rand stated in her book by the disappearance of these men. In other words " I believe that each person has the capacity to be successful" (by their own choices, and actions, that they make of course) and I do not believe that there are only a few of them out there. It’s all about hard work, keeping clear goals in life, persistence, not giving up,and most importantly taking action on your dreams whether be small steps or big steps towards reaching your-fullest potential. Not letting others write your life story but rather realizing that we have the power already within us to create great things and impact the life’s of others through positive actions.(Again It’s not in a few men or the lucky only but it’s in all of us).However there are other parts that made me love the book as well. The Book Atlas Shrugged is not, only about a railroad; but there is an immense deeper symbolism that I believe people have to read the whole book, in order to find out what that symbol is there is politics involved in it, adventure, negative effects of socialism- also “ very important money is not bad it’s how you made it” that defines that perception its “ greed money vs. hard earned money that came with good positive accomplishments that have helped other people or have improved their lives". Ayn Rad also mentioned "Throughout centuries there were men who first took steps down new roads armed but nothing but their own vision" this was true for The Wright Brothers and their vision of a plane, it was also true for Ford who was the founder and inventor of cars men who chose to write their OWN life story.-Its also never to late to achieve those things that you still want to accomplish in your life.

  • KevyB says:

    If they had called it Jesus Shrugged it would've made billions!!!

  • Artist-hating Charles says:

    There's no chance that a good movie version of Atlas Shrugged will come out of today's Hollywood. It could have happened 30 years ago, but not anymore.

  • I hope they keep the same cast too ... except that I heard rumors that they were NOT going to be keeping Jsu Garcia as Francisco d'Anconia ... which I think is a complete mistake. I'd love to know what others thought of his portrayal??

    I work with Jsu and just loved him as Francisco. I hope they reconsider.

    And on a positive note, Jsu is currently starring in a film which premieres March 8th - The Wayshower, at the ArcLight Cinerama Dome. It's a free screening, open to everyone. Jsu is fantastic in this, together with Oscar nominees Eric Roberts and Sally Kirkland. http://bit.ly/PRINTICKETws .

    He co-wrote and co-directed The Wayshower with his long time spiritual teacher and friend Dr. John-Roger. The result is one of the most inspiring and life-changing films. Like the first time I read the Fountainhead (sorry but it's my favorite), it changed the way I saw myself and the world, and inspired me into greater responsibility and bigger dreams. The Wayshower is a similar game changer. Completely changed the commitment I have to myself, the commitment to living my life for me, and showed me how important it is not to live according to our doubts and fears, but to our love and vision.

  • Ana Sofia GU says:

    I am !I read the whole entire Atlas Shrugged book by Ayn Rand in High School. The book is much more detailed than the movie. Nevertheless the movie was phenomenal and it still brought an excellent message However (I recommend to read the book too). Ayn Rand truly supports Capitalism and talks about the importance of hard work to earn your goals in life. The only thing that I happen to disagree is that the book focuses on how "society" cannot survive, without the "existence" of a few business talented men such as the mysterious man Gault, Rearden ect (that does not mean am saying that there accomplishments didn't improve society but what am trying to bring about is that I believe every one of us has the capability to succeed is in each person)- not only a few like Ayn Rand stated in her book by the disappearance of these men. In other words " I believe that each person has the capacity to be successful" (by their own choices and actions that they make of course) and I do not believe that there are only a few of them out there. It’s all about hard work, keeping clear goals in life, persistence, not giving up,and most importantly taking action on your dreams whether be small steps or big steps towards reaching your-fullest potential. Not letting others write your life story but rather realizing that we have the power already within us to create great things and impact the life’s of others through positive actions.(Again It’s not in a few men or the lucky only but it’s in all of us).However there are other parts that made me love the book as well. The Book Atlas Shrugged is not only about a railroad but there is an immense deeper symbolism that I believe people have to read the whole book in order to find out what that symbol is there is politics involved in it, adventure, negative effects of socialism- also “ very important money is not bad it’s how you made it” that defines that perception its “ greed money vs. hard earned money that came with good positive accomplishments that have helped other people or have improved their lives". Ayn Rad also mentioned "Throughout centuries there were men who first took steps down new roads armed but nothing but their own vision" this was true for The Wright Brothers and their vision of a plane, it was also true for Ford who was the founder and inventor of cars men who chose to write their OWN life story.

  • GaltFollower says:

    I am very excited about Part 2 coming out. The message of Part 1 was perfect. The actors were great, DON'T CHANGE THEM! The first film didn't do well at the box office due to lack of advertising, and because the message of the film is heavy. Unfortunately, many Americans are incaple of the deep thought required to recognize the importance of this film. So let me put it in simple terms: "Long live the Producers! Down with the Moochers!"

    • Norman says:

      Those who do not realize the importance of this film have no right to the wealth of others. It is up to these producers to see that those incapable of this deep thought do not receive the loot that they demand.

  • John Galt says:

    If it is good, I will choose to purchase it.

  • Kent says:

    The marketplace spoke. Rand's message is psychological self-gratification for those predisposed to buy it, but in the real world it's an idiotic apologist's screed for the upper 1%, who are the biggest group of "moochers" and non-producers in the world.
    The people Rand tries to portray as akin to perfect would have nothing without workers. Let them flee to their utopian island. And they will produce NOTHING as a result.
    That's why they haven't fled and why they aren't going to.

    Atlas Shurgged failed because it is a lie. Worse, a lie that it's myopic producers couldn't even market.

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