As we creep further and further away from the actual year 1984, the fears and ideas put forward in George Orwell’s seminal dystopian novel **Nineteen Eighty-Four **(published in 1949, don’t forget) seem more and more prescient. So that might be why Brian Grazer and his Imagine Entertainment team are thinking that it’s time for another screen version of the book.
Orwell’s tome focused on Oceania, a society ruled by a dictator named Big Brother, who controlled everything via The Party. Individuality is frowned upon, truths are manipulated and war with other continents seems endless. We follow the journey of Ministry Of Truth employee Winston Smith as he nurtures thoughts of revolution and forbidden love, and the terrible consequences that follow.
Artist Shepard Fairey, best known for his Obama “Hope” poster, had been looking into the rights along with Grazer when they discovered that Julie Yorn’s LBI Entertainment was also interested. So instead of launching a bitter struggle, they decided to team up and work together.
There are no writers or any director attached yet, though the companies are now hearing pitches. And the project doesn’t have any studio backing right now, so there’s every chance it could cool its heels in development for a while. The last time anyone tried to bring the story to the screen was 2006, with Tim Robbins spearheading an abortive version. Given the chilling effectiveness of Michael Radford’s 1984 take, any new film will have to live up to a high standard, or everyone involved will be sent to Room 101, where **Just Go With It **plays on an endless loop at top volume.