Apple Working on TV Show Adapted From Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation' Novels

[Hagrid]

I am one part skeptical and worried and one part shiveringly ecstatic. I adore this book and franchise, and Asimov will always be one of my absolute favorite authors. But hard sci-fi of this nature is inherently difficult to turn into mass-consumable entertainment, considering the thing most audiences connect with in fiction is characters, while hard sci-fi puts characterization in a back seat to the universe in which the story is set.

We'll see.

My sentiments exactly. I think the Foundation series is the best sci-fi series ever written. Asimov is my favorite SF author. Only Asimov could have come up with the "surprise" at the end of the original trilogy. I always wanted some one to make this into a film series. I'm a little concerned about turning it into a "pedestrian" story for the masses.

There are many ways they can screw this up. One would be making it too PC. While others have noted, there is little gratuitous sex and violence in the series, especially in the original trilogy. However, the original trilogy, included men acting as manly men, something the current PC culture seems to hate. This could change the "feel" of some of the beginning sections if they emasculate some of the early protagonists (e.g. Hardin and Mallow) Now, Asimov does do himself a solid with having a female as one of the heroes (no spoilers).

Bottom line, I excited as hell for this!!

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

A film adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End" has wandered around Development Hell™ for decades. We will likely never see it because its notion of "gargantuan spaceships hovering over the world's capitals" has already been co-opted by "V" and "Independence Day." Similarly, I always thought that the broad outlines of the Foundation universe were borrowed by George Lucas for "Star Wars." Let's see: a republic replaced by an empire; a mutant emperor; a planet that is the galactic capital, which is completely developed with no bare soil....

I thought the 3 part SyFy miniseries of Childhood's End a couple of years ago was pretty interesting. But then again, it has been so long since I read the book, it could have been an adaptation of Winnie the Pooh and I wouldn't have been able to critique it for "following the original", LOL!

 

[Defthand]

Oh Apple, focus.

Amen. It’s not that they’re incapable of producing a quality show, but they shouldn’t be pursuing projects outside their expertise until shortcomings with their core products are resolved. Cook should heed his own advice:

“It's hard to edit. It's hard to stay focused. And yet, we know we'll only do our best work if we stay focused. And so, you know, the hardest decisions we made are all the things not to work on, frankly.” —Tim Cook

 

[farmboy]

You know...psychohistory predicted all this, right? Will be waiting for Hari Seldon to making a pre-recorded appearance before this show airs.

When I first read this epic I came away pissed that my parents failed to name me Daneel. Just so good all the way through.

 

[ActionableMango]

When I first read this epic I came away pissed that my parents failed to name me...

Dude, you should spoiler tag that. It's a pretty big reveal.

 

[Nunyabinez]

If Apple really wanted to be smart, they would find a Philip K Dick book that hasn't been made into a movie.

I love Asimov tons, but damn, that poor troubled Philip K Dick wrote a ridiculous number of books that have translated really well to movies.

 

[Googlyhead]

My sentiments exactly. I think the Foundation series is the best sci-fi series ever written. Asimov is my favorite SF author. Only Asimov could have come up with the "surprise" at the end of the original trilogy. I always wanted some one to make this into a film series. I'm a little concerned about turning it into a "pedestrian" story for the masses.

There are many ways they can screw this up. One would be making it too PC. While others have noted, there is little gratuitous sex and violence in the series, especially in the original trilogy. However, the original trilogy, included men acting as manly men, something the current PC culture seems to hate. This could change the "feel" of some of the beginning sections if they emasculate some of the early protagonists (e.g. Hardin and Mallow) Now, Asimov does do himself a solid with having a female as one of the heroes (no spoilers).

Bottom line, I excited as hell for this!!

I'm more than a little concerned that it'll end up both simplified ("pedestrian" and/or episode cliffhangers) and converted into a platform for Apple's current politics.
There are many classic stories and authors that specifically predict and warn against that which Apple favours. I would hazard that this could easily be an adaption in name only.

 

[scuac]

I’m really curious how they will portray the mule and psychic powers on film. I think getting those right will be hard and one of the many reasons no one has attempted a film version of this so far.

 

[cmaier]

I’m really curious how they will portray the mule and psychic powers on film. I think getting those right will be hard and one of the many reasons no one has attempted a film version of this so far.

Not much to portray (as far as powers). Even in the books there is no visible indication of (you know what. Don’t want to spoil anything). Makes it far creepier that you never know.

That said, see Legion as an example of that sort of power being portrayed pretty well.

 

[where is it]

Apple TV shows will be embarrassing. Apple has never done entertainment or fun well... Remember U2 being wheeled out year after year at the end of keynote speeches. So cringeworthy most switched off.

 

[truthertech]

Oh Apple, focus.

No need to worry. With every product/service introduction they just strengthen eco-system, revenue streams and profits. That's why they are the most valuable company in the world with the most profits in the world. The entertainment division has brought in its own talent, some of the best in the industry, and has nothing to do with the engineers, designers and managers working on hardware and other services divisions other than to make them more valuable.

 

[Jerry Fritschle]

I thought the 3 part SyFy miniseries of Childhood's End a couple of years ago was pretty interesting. But then again, it has been so long since I read the book, it could have been an adaptation of Winnie the Pooh and I wouldn't have been able to critique it for "following the original", LOL!

The Sharknado Channel put out a "Childhood's End"? I completely missed that

 

[GeneralChang]

My sentiments exactly. I think the Foundation series is the best sci-fi series ever written. Asimov is my favorite SF author. Only Asimov could have come up with the "surprise" at the end of the original trilogy. I always wanted some one to make this into a film series. I'm a little concerned about turning it into a "pedestrian" story for the masses.

There are many ways they can screw this up. One would be making it too PC. While others have noted, there is little gratuitous sex and violence in the series, especially in the original trilogy. However, the original trilogy, included men acting as manly men, something the current PC culture seems to hate. This could change the "feel" of some of the beginning sections if they emasculate some of the early protagonists (e.g. Hardin and Mallow) Now, Asimov does do himself a solid with having a female as one of the heroes (no spoilers).

Bottom line, I excited as hell for this!!

Eh, for my money they'll be selling the story short if they focus on any one character enough to get people upset about their personality. Foundation doesn't really have a character focus to speak of until Second Foundation, and through the whole series we only really get... what, five characters that feature the depth of characterization most people expect from their serial TV shows these days?

It's been a long time since stuff like Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and Ray Bradbury Theater, is what I'm saying. What engages modern audiences is characters first followed by setting, and any real effort to appeal to that engagement will basically reverse the actual focus of the books.

Though, I don't know, maybe the producers are actually wanting to return to the style of those older sci-fi shows. For my money that would be a good way to differentiate this new project from competitors.

 

[truthertech]

Apple TV shows will be embarrassing. Apple has never done entertainment or fun well... Remember U2 being wheeled out year after year at the end of keynote speeches. So cringeworthy most switched off.

"Apple has never done entertainment or fun well." LOL. Where do you read this stuff? Apple iOS is number one in the world in games and brings in billions in revenue each year. iTunes brings in billions in revenue from entertainment downloads each year and is the number one all time music and video sales store. In a blink of an eye Apple Music soared to number two in the world and is heading toward 50 million monthly users. Yes, Apple doesn't do entertainment well.

 

[where is it]

"Apple has never done entertainment or fun well." LOL. Where do you read this stuff? Apple iOS is number one in the world in games and brings in billions in revenue each year. iTunes brings in billions in revenue from entertainment downloads each year and is the number one all time music and video sales store. In a blink of an eye Apple Music soared to number two in the world and is heading toward 50 million monthly users. Yes, Apple doesn't do entertainment well.

Apple has never done entertainment well... The AppStore, Apple Music, iTunes etc are all filled with developers, musicians, film companies work, not Apples. Apple doing entertainment itself = Pippin http://uk.businessinsider.com/apple-made-a-games-console-called-pippin-in-1996-2017-6

 

[dragje]

wow wow wow, this is my favorite book (series) that I've been reading for over more then 6 times when I was younger. As a huuuuge Asimov fan I can only appreciate this move from Apple. Of course, it can become a television flop, but I could also appreciate the radio hearplay based on The Foundation, I think from the BBC at the time!
Bring it on Apple!

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

The Sharknado Channel put out a "Childhood's End"? I completely missed that

Yeah. It was about 2 or 3 years ago. You can still do some sort of Pay-per-View thing on it, if you're really curious. 3, 2 hour episodes.

http://www.syfy.com/childhoodsend/episodes

 

[dragje]

[doublepost=1523377833][/doublepost]I can't wait!

me neither, have red this series multiple times, it's a masterpiece within the SciFi genre.

 

[kdarling]

Hari Seldon will be acted by a CGI Steve Jobs construct.

The Plan will be modified to include Apple inspired perfection of all computer devices in the universe.

The Mule (the unforeseen mutant who threatens The Plan) will be played by Tim Cook.

 

[cmaier]

Hari Seldon will be acted by a CGI Steve Jobs construct.

The Plan will be modified to include Apple inspired perfection of all computer devices in the universe.

The Mule (the unforeseen mutant who threatens The Plan) will be played by Tim Cook.

Does this place have a "dislike" button?

 

[Abazigal]

In light of the news of Spotify partnering with Hulu, it makes more sense for Apple to have its own video content. An Apple Music / video combo to stave off the competition, if you will call it that.

 

[jeremiah256]

I remember how cool it was 10 years ago when I got my first iPhone, and I held it in my left hand, and used my right index finger to tap the screen and get my email.

10 years later, I can't believe people are excited about spending $1000 so they can hold the newest iPhone in their left hand and tap the screen with their right index finger.

Original iPhone:
- $600 (cheapest model)
- 4GBs RAM
- 3-axis accelerometer
- 163 ppi display
- 2 MP rear camera only

iPhone SE
- $350 (cheapest model)
- 16GBs RAM
- 3-axis gyroscope, accelerometer, digital compass, Touch ID
- 326 ppi display
- 12 MP rear camera with 4K @ 30 fps/1.2 MP front camera w/720p recording

The $1000 model you mentioned doesn't have to be touched. It can sit on your desk, notice you glancing at it, and display the notification for your email, and you can respond to that email via voice.

 

[truthertech]

Apple has never done entertainment well... The AppStore, Apple Music, iTunes etc are all filled with developers, musicians, film companies work, not Apples. Apple doing entertainment itself = Pippin http://uk.businessinsider.com/apple-made-a-games-console-called-pippin-in-1996-2017-6

That's like saying Netflix doesn't do entertainment well because their TV shows and movies are the work of the film companies, producers, directors, etc., they hire. Amazon, Netflix, Google, and now Apple are all bidding for the same stuff from the same group of studios, etc.

 

[where is it]

That's like saying Netflix doesn't do entertainment well because their TV shows and movies are the work of the film companies, producers, directors, etc., they hire. Amazon, Netflix, Google, and now Apple are all bidding for the same stuff from the same group of studios, etc.

I'd be amazed if Apple made entertainment as good as Netflix & Amazon.

The difference being that Netflix and Amazon don't get in the way of the fun. Apple loves to control EVERYTHING. That's where the fun gets sapped out. A bit like a controlling parent or a government getting involved.

For example, Breaking Bad - if Apple bought the rights then they have it changed from Walt cooking meth in the desert to doing baggies in the evening on a street corner to make his fortune - it's similar but with the excitement turned down. Oh, and there'd be no guns, profanity or nudity to earn a family friendly rating.

 

[truthertech]

I'd be amazed if Apple made entertainment as good as Netflix & Amazon.

The difference being that Netflix and Amazon don't get in the way of the fun. Apple loves to control EVERYTHING. That's where the fun gets sapped out. A bit like a controlling parent or a government getting involved.

For example, Breaking Bad - if Apple bought the rights then they have it changed from Walt cooking meth in the desert to doing baggies in the evening on a street corner to make his fortune - it's similar but with the excitement turned down. Oh, and there'd be no guns, profanity or nudity to earn a family friendly rating.

Interesting observation that the only way to "have fun" is to watch films with guns, profanity and nudity. Good news for you, Apple has plenty of that available for you on iTunes, though not x-rated. On the other hand, Apple is bringing in billions with hundreds of millions of people playing games,( iOS is the leading platform), reading books, watching movies, listening and watching podcasts and TV shows and movies, and of course with their original home run, listening to music.

Also, Apple is the leading platform for having fun as evidenced by over 80% of teenagers have iPhones and even more want one. Teens, unlike their curmudgeonly parents, as we all know, are into it for fun, so Apple has hit that with games, fun features in iMessage, etc.