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==Film Adaptation==

==Film Adaptation==

Almost since the initial publication of the novel, the most avid followers of Ayn Rand, who called themselves "students of Objectivism," have wished to see the novel adapted as a [[motion picture]]. To date only one of Ayn Rand's novels has been adapted for film: ''[[The Fountainhead]]''. Ayn Rand herself wrote the screenplay for that film, in which [[Gary Cooper]] portrayed the leading protagonist, Howard Roark.

Almost since the initial publication of the novel, the most avid followers of Ayn Rand, who called themselves "students of Objectivism," have wished to see the novel adapted as a [[motion picture]]. The first of Ayn Rand's novels to be adapted for film was ''[[The Fountainhead]]''. Ayn Rand herself wrote the screenplay for that film, in which [[Gary Cooper]] portrayed the leading protagonist, Howard Roark.

The major difficulties with adapting ''Atlas Shrugged'' to film were twofold. One, the story was simply too long for any one film to do it justice. Two, [[Hollywood values]] were already beginning to diverge from American values, and the prospect of a film that would be remotely faithful, either to the novel or to Ayn Rand's original motivation for writing it, always seemed rather remote.

The major difficulties with adapting ''Atlas Shrugged'' to film were twofold. One, the story was simply too long for any one film to do it justice. Two, [[Hollywood values]] were already beginning to diverge from American values, and the prospect of a film that would be remotely faithful, either to the novel or to Ayn Rand's original motivation for writing it, always seemed rather remote.

Yet different producers have attempted a film adaptation for a long time. At one point, according to the trade paper ''Variety'', Alfred S. Ruddy attempted for several years to do his own adaptation. Among the names of actors and actresses that were mentioned in connection with Ruddy's efforts were those of [[Clint Eastwood]], [[Robert Redford]], and [[Faye Dunaway]].<ref name=imdb/>

Yet different producers have attempted a film adaptation for a long time. At one point, according to the trade paper ''Variety'', Alfred S. Ruddy attempted for several years to do his own adaptation. Among the names of actors and actresses that were mentioned in connection with Ruddy's efforts were those of [[Clint Eastwood]], [[Robert Redford]], and [[Faye Dunaway]].<ref name=imdb/>

The Baldwin Entertainment company recently tried to produce an adaptation, but gave it up. Then a brand-new company, calling itself The Strike Productions, took the project over.<ref name=imdb/> They have hired their own writer and director, and more to the point, the cast of the film consist entirely of actors and actresses who have appeared, if at all, in projects with which very few, outside of dedicated [[motion picture|movie]] "buffs," are likely to be familiar. The project is currently filming and is scheduled to release in 2011.

The Baldwin Entertainment company recently tried to produce an adaptation, but gave it up. Then a brand-new company, calling itself The Strike Productions, took the project over.<ref name=imdb/> They hired their own writer and director, and more to the point, the cast of the film consist entirely of actors and actresses who have appeared, if at all, in projects with which very few, outside of dedicated [[motion picture|movie]] "buffs," are likely to be familiar.

Followers of the novel are not pleased, especially since the film is now a distinctly low-budget ($5 million US) project with no actors or actresses with true "marquee" value. But some, who ''are'' familiar with director Paul Johannsen (who has also cast himself as John Galt) and his work, are willing to grant him the benefit of doubt.

The film moves the action forward to 2016. Obviously it updates many forms of communications and media. But it does ''not'' update all the situations&mdash;for example, it does not tell the story of a Taggart Intercontinental ''Airline''. Instead it projects a future in which:

# The [[Middle East]] has totally imploded, and all importation of [[oil]] to the [[United States]] stops.

# Motor fuel cannot be had at a price less than $37.50 per gallon&mdash;in the United States.

# The [[United States Navy]] has lost all its strength, and thus cannot cope with a lone [[privateer]] ([[Ragnar Danneskjold]]) hijacking government relief cargoes.

# [[Railroad]]s are the primary mode of transport for passengers and freight. Commercial aviation is dead. A quick opening scene shows the demolition of a Boeing 727 (or perhaps an MD-80).

# Instead of a National Rail Passenger Corporation ([[Amtrak]]), the [[Taggart Transcontinental Railroad]] has existed and operated continuously for more than a century. This is the only concession to alternate history that this film makes.

 

The film premiered on April 15, 2011. Its reception was definitely negative from mainstream reviewers, like the novel before it. From students of Objectivism it received mixed reviews.

 

# The campaign by the [[National Labor Relations Board]] to forbid the Boeing Aerospace Corporation to build an aircraft plant in [[South Carolina]], a [[right to work]] State.

==Recent popular mention==

==Recent popular mention==