Period setting like the 1950s. Really any period would work if we could not sell the 50s.

Progress report?

Any word about the Atlas Shrugged Television Series

1950s, makes more sense with the technology exhibited in the book (ex. Film for calendar, wide usage of trains)

Definitely "the day after tomorrow"! It would be more appealing to younger audiences who's minds are currently being filled with Socialist thoughts by their teachers who have been trained to teach by their Socialist professors.

The key ingredient to believability is the eyes of the main characters. Just look at Ayn's eyes, extreme intelligence. Deep. Hire Stana Katic to play Dagny. And someone with more intensity to play John. Just need better casting, good enough is not good enough.

I did not enjoy the day-after-tomorrow treatment in the movies, it did not have the authenticity of the author's imagination. Worry about getting the love story right, the movies did not have time enough for love.

The TV show Gotham has been very successful not saying just when it's happening. There are parts of it which feel like the 50s, and there are parts of it that feel like they're happening today.

The result is a timelessness where the story can be told without having to worry about pinning it to specific things happening today.

This is what I think should be done with an AS television show. References to specific things that are actually happening in the world will kill it dead. Rand knew better than to do that. Art communicates values. Let the viewers make the connections between what's happening on the show and the things happening in the world.

the day after tomorrow!

First, if it is going to be a series of any type, i would like to see it produced as much as possible from cover to cover with the book. I do realize this probably precludes a mini. I seriously doubt any network will carry this. I do not have cable, so i will have to wait until i can buy the series on DVD.

If it were a Period (1950') piece it very well could be easier to sell to the networks. It would be seen as a “fictional” story and would not rub the Liberals too much the wrong way.

But on the other hand so much has happened since Rand wrote the book that an up- to-date environment could use actual events that have or are happening today. It very well would open many peoples eyes and minds to the problems the government and Liberal agenda is causing within society today. Either way the story needs to be told using the media most used and watched today. Considering that over 20 million copies and counting of the book “Atlas Shrugged” have been sold and read.

I was very glad that the 3 part movie was produced and aired. Television would reach a much larger and diverse group of people.

Perhaps it would wake up many millions more and change could be made in our society today.

that would be excellent. our country has lost its roots from our forefathers. too much energy is wasted on liberals selfish demands. it amazes me that people go along with this when complaints don't exists its just a ploy to keep them focused on fluff and be blind to what is really serious issues that will affect our freedoms including speaking out go for it.

It matters only a little of what time period you set the story in, but how firm will the story line and script be to the message. Now or "tomorrow" will be fine, but if the producers don't fight for the purity, it will be the largest waste of opportunity in human history.
No one will see this message, being buried so deep, but another opportunity will be produce an individual showing of each dissertation of Rand's book: "Capitalism: the Unknown Ideal" This would be an opportunity to support, reenforce and instruct viewers of the very wealth management and human pursuit that provided them the level of existence they enjoy.

Love the mini-series idea. It will allow better development of the characters and the story. I think they did a great job of bringing the story into current time with one major exception. Hank's signing away his right to Readen Metal because of a scandal about an extra marital affair. That was much more scandalous in the 50's than today. That just did not make sense to me.

Great!

It should be futuristic, as the novel intended; but
of course there would have to be some updates.
There are cell phones now, but,as the country is
deteriorating, they can be shown not to work more
often that not; just before she calls Ellis Wyatt,
Dagny could try her cell phone, mutter "D***
cell towers!" and run to the nearest pay phone.
The cigarette smoking should be soft-pedaled.
Dagny's and Rearden's having an affair would
not be considered so shocking nowadays; but
there could be something about fundamentalists'
having rammed through an anti-divorce law in
Rearden's state; also, Lillian could engineer
someone's planting cameras in the hotel room,
and when Dr. Floyd Ferris comes to blackmail
Rearden, he could show him that he has more
than hotel registries to back him up; he could
say something about photographs or film, and
show Rearden something, and the audience
could know what it is by Rearden's looking sick.
Etc.

Call the new series something fundamental/iconic: "FREEDOM of Men", or "Existence"....

Open the series 20+ years in our future with characters unrelated to A.S. For example, construct a scenario, in the first episode, where a few primary characters, maybe a TV news crew, become isolated by a major, lingering ice storm after filming protesters burn the business of a rural gunsmith. The crew winds up in a primitive cabin powered by a gas generator.

Cell phone service is unreliable and communication limited. After settling in, they find there only entertainment is an old DVD player hooked up to an older television. On a shelf, they discover their video choices are very limited. Curious, one of them selects something called "The Strike".

The TV comes to life when a notable old actor (a 'heavyweight' actor, a la Clint Eastwood or Robert Duvall) starts to introduce the film. From there, the story of "Atlas Shrugged" begins, under it's working title, within its own period/alternative universe.

Atlas Shrugged is the primary story portrayed, and the 'real life' story of the crew is occasionally framed by their interactions and bits of current events gleaned from their vehicle radio. The series can then develop over time as the crew absorbs and reacts to an epic that captivates them. Once A.S. is told, the 'real life' narrative could continue to illustrate Objectivist concepts and sense of life.

"the day after tomorrow"

How about making the TV series start where Atlas Shrugged ends- basically the beginning of a new society this time really based on individual and property rights.

An Atlas Shrugged TV series is a very promising idea, and I'm all in favor of it - few things reach a larger audience over a longer period than a TV series. TV also has a rather unique quality of 'familiarity' in that regular, weekly characters are perceived as almost part of the family, being as they are seen in one's home every week, week after week. This can be very persuasive, and politically powerful. Look at Star Trek, which ran only three seasons and was cancelled almost 50 years ago - and today is more recognized and influential than ever. The 50s vs. "the day after tomorrow" question is a no-brainer: We are trying to influence people to create and live in a better future, not to see Rand and her work as a part of the past. The other side of that coin is that TV series inevitably wind down, and are cancelled and replaced; as George Santayana said "For an idea ever to be fashionable is ominous, since it must afterwards be always old-fashioned." One additional thought: Frequent cast changes aren't a problem for an anthology-structured show!

Definitely the day after tomorrow. OR, at the very earliest 6 years ago to time with the advent of Obama.

I am really looking forward to this!
I do hope it will be published as a DVD collection because I do not have cable or any other pay TV. I refuse to pay for TV when they get paid from advertising! I am on an old antenna and watch local free TV with a lot of commercials!
Thank you John!

I would love for the setting to be in the Fifties. I felt as if the movie setting, with all it's really modernly futuristic, round-edges took away from the picture I got from the novel, which was much more art deco fifties futuristic style. I think the costumes and technology would be more interesting on screen too. Clothing from that era is very slick for both sexes, and very no nonsense for early to middle aged adults. Also, period technology, like type writers, have visible moving parts. I felt, too, that since the Fifties had such a radio culture, and the book's pivotal moments in Act 3 took place over radio most times, so it just makes sense. I'm really excited and I can't wait!

The day after tomorrow would be better. I like the idea of flashbacks to other policies that got us into this mess. Can you add people talking about the Constitution, so that Americans understand what it is and how it works?

"the day after tomorrow" time frame sounds great. I'd like to see it put to the test: let's see if the project can withstand the gubment's meddling with media to steer the messages we receive on our home screens.