Great Idea.

Love the "Day after Tomorrow" idea.

OK, so while it would be really sexy to make it a period piece.. Stick with the day after tomorrow. If the goal is to have a real impact it would be difficult to make a period piece that people can identify with, since that is a time that has come and gone already. With a near future its something that is on the way. By making it close enough that the world is recognizable you actually make an even larger impact.

The idea of TV series seems attractive at first; however, the thought needs a great deal of analysis before committing to a project. Consider that the fundamental morality behind Atlas Shrugged is the negative effects that religions have on all societies. Although Miss Rand never condemns religion directly, in so many words in the novel, she implies it many times over in character dialog. The detrimental moral code she speaks of is accepted by about 4/5 of the world’s population, meaning that 4/5 of the worlds population has accepted a religion and has identified and practice at least some, if not all, of the stated doctrines common to the religion, leaving only 20% of the world population with a morality that might comprehend the message behind Atlas Shrugged. The other 80% will not be capable of assembling the message and, therefore, any series, movie, or adaptation of the book will most likely result in abject failure. At best, only one reviewer in 5 will be capable of producing a rational positive review. The remaining reviewers will not comprehend the message and, therefore, will be most likely produce negative reviews no matter how good the adaptation might be. Keep in mind also, that reviewers are products from journalism schools and, therefore, have been exposed to the very morality behind the purpose of the strike. Conclusion: Atlas Shrugged is not a piece of literature that is adaptable to the screen or TV. The message cannot be understood by 80% of society. Based on this analysis, any project that attempts to project the message of Atlas Shrugged will meet with failure, to say nothing about the almost insurmountable task of finding a casting agency, writers, directors, and actors who fully understand that Atlas Shrugged is not just a story, but an entire theory of life beyond the societal constraints of religions. The task is not impossible, but highly improbable, and as much as I would love to see a proper adaptation of the novel, I highly recommend to not undertake this project. Let the book stand on its own merits as it has for almost 60 years. No matter what time zone the project might be set in, it cannot project the message to an audience that cannot comprehend it. Stop now, and avoid any further embarrassment from those who can't understand.

I would prefer that we bring the story up to date in modern context. Therefore I lean for the day after tomorrow. However, You can have it both ways. What I mean is I would seriously consider using fading shots where the series looks back at the industrialist years ago. Include visions/ reflections of the founding fathers. Using examples of how socialism has failed in past governments etc The story lines are endless. Most importantly this series can and should bring in new viewers not just where we preach to ourselves. We have the opportunity to start a movement in this country if this series in done correctly. If we can get a following like House of Cards or even a fraction of it we will be on our way to making a difference. We all know the series Star Trek made a huge impact on young people and many of its on screen innovations are now reality. Possibly this series can make a similar impact in the way people will view government.

If there is a kickstarter let me know.

THE SOONER THE BETTER...

I vote for day after tomorrow. But I feel strongly both ways. I think it will be more plausible if what falls apart is the workings of things rather than physical machines breaking down. In our current partially dysfunctional system, it seems technology keeps working. The 2008-9 disaster did not make machines break. But dark ATM's, gasoline running out because the delivery can't be paid for, that sort of thing. Certainly there is ample room for medical emergencies where the skills and facilities exist, but survival is threatened because they are not in the right places or paperwork is not done on time.
Thanks...

OMG!! It can't begin soon enough!!!

Day after tomorrow definitely. Best way to reach the millennials who need to where this country is heading.

Bring it on!!!

This is good news!

I think it should be "day after tomorrow" based on how Americans imagined the future world from the 1950s perspective. Maybe just without the flying cars...

Story should take place in the 21st century aka the day after tomorrow.

Chicago, the day after tomorrow. Corrupt Chicago (and Illinois!) is on the verge of becoming the next Detroit. Its a perfect setting.

This story is deserving of House of Cards level talent. Selling out to anything less (like was done with the movie trilogy) will cause more harm than good.

Ideally, for me, I would prefer it to be set in the period of the book. But, more importantly, I want Rand's message to reach as many people as possible, and I think the best chance for that to happen is if the show is set during a day after tomorrow period. Then hopefully, the younguns will give the show a chance and not change the channel as soon as they see a fedora or a rotary phone. Hey, can we get Hugh Laurie cast?

I've said all along a series would have had water-cooler Magic. Every week people would have been lured in by word of mouth and waited breathlessly for the following week's episode.
The trilogy lost that magic being cut up into three parts so far apart in time. The change of cast just added to the non-excitement.

I'd love to see it as the day after tomorrow. The impact of AS carried into today would be so powerful to not just youth, but so many middle aged that see the problems of today but can't seem to be able to connect the dots or see below the surface. The initial opening sequence might depict an original brief transition from those of the 50's or so to their children, with a few elders, carrying on into today's efforts. Take it away from the fantasy of the 50's and move it into the realities of today, and still moving slowly to change.
The series could well involve a trifold compilation of Gulchers hiding in plain sight, those in the govt/bureaucracy side pushing their plans, and those learning the lessons of the Gulchers.
Room for idealist/intellectual, heroic activist, wrong headed anti-liberty collectivist/hidden institutional/bureaucratic govt, and the masses caught in the propaganda both trying to understand and also burying their heads.
So many possibilities. Two other successful series come to mind, the first Son's of Anarchy and the second Shameless on Showtime. They convey the under currents of today's life from the view of those lives struggling on a day to day effort to not just exist, but looking for or hoping for something different--often without realizing the hope while suffering setbacks and finding small gains.

This has me excited and is something I'd really love to see.

continuing my comment-ACCURATELY- then set it in the 50s. If modified as the film why not modify it to the present/furture.
A R T

“How does a full blown television series sound!?”

Sounds great! I think it would take a miniseries with 20-to-26 one-hour episodes to do the book justice. I think it would be helpful if each episode tells a self-contained story within an overarching story arc. Many successful television series have used this approach.

“Should the Atlas Shrugged television series be a period piece set in the 1950s or should it take place, as Ayn Rand alluded to, ‘the day after tomorrow?’"

I vote for “period piece.” The book had a very specific political and cultural setting within which all the parts fit together seamlessly. For example, the exposure of Hank Rearden’s affair with Dagny would have had much more severe social consequences in 1957 than would be the case in 2015.

Adapting Ayn Rand’s novel to the present day would be the equivalent of taking a 1950s era automobile and retrofitting it with today’s technological advances such as airbags, seat belts, cd/mp3 players and GPS. It can be done, but the results would look awkward. I think that this problem showed up to some extent in the movie trilogy, and would be an even bigger distraction in a longer and more detailed television series.

Today’s readers do not appear to have a problem with accepting the novel as Ayn Rand originally wrote it, and I don’t think television viewers would have a problem with a miniseries that remained faithful to the novel. There are many popular books, movies and television series that take place in alternative past and present worlds. The success of the “superhero” franchises, for example, demonstrates that there is a sizable market for this type of entertainment, and Ayn Rand’s protagonists certainly qualify as “superheroes,” who succeed using reason rather than superhuman powers.

Atlas Shrugged was *made* for the Dieselpunk aesthetic. Frankly I thought it was one of the huge things that the movies got wrong. I would prefer to see it set in a timeless period with Art Deco/Dieselpunk trappings, fashions reminiscent of the 40s updated with a modern flair, and similiar style cues.

I'm actually fine with either time setting.

I'd like to see the series stick to the 50s time period. For me, the time period was part of the allure of the novel. But either way, I'll be watching it.

This is wonderful news! I prefer the period piece premise but because the message is so timeless would support either.

Definitely in the 1950s. That was a fascinating area of the true entrepreneur's fighting to survive against crony capitalism. You could show the strong distinction between how the state, in the name 'helping the poor and destroying monopolies' creates those very vices they clamed to try be eliminating.

The "day after tomorrow" approach was tried. Might be interesting to see how it unfolds as a an alternate history / period piece.