For the last several, ever since the movie rights to Ringworld were sold, there have been rumors of a Ringworld Movie which has led to untold amounts of speculation about the cast, the characters and the special effects involved in making the movie.
This page has been created to hold information about the movie and rumours when they are known.
10th March 2003
In a interview on Slashdot one of the questions posed was:
Movie Jealousy? (by spun)
David Brin has been forthright concerning his jealousy over bad SF being made into movies while his work is not. With the exception of 'Forbidden Planet' I have yet to see a science fiction movie that draws me in the way a good Sci-Fi book does.
I also think that your works would make excellent movies. Brin's work would probably play well in Europe, where people seem to prefer a little more ambiguity in their movies. It probably wouldn't do well here. Now, I'm not saying your writing isn't of the same caliber as Brin's work, but it is a little more accesible to the common man, and therefore seems well suited to be made into a blockbuster that would do well in the states. My questions: 1.) Are you at all jealous that lesser talents get to have their work seen by millions on the silver screen? 2.) Have you been approached by any producers regarding screenplays of your work? 3.) Would you even want to have your works made into movies?
That said, I just have to say thank you for providing me with so much quality entertainment! I grew up reading your stories from the time I was ten. In my esteem, you are one of the best well rounded Sci Fi authors out there. Your work has great characters, fantastic settings, believable science, and lots of action. Thanks again.
Larry answered:
"Sure I'm jealous, and angry. I've waited too long to take my family to a movie made from my works, and now my mother's gotten to old to go. I'm glad to see Brin's "The Postman" on the big screen. I like his message. But I'd like to see Harry the Mailman, from Lucifer's Hammer, up there too.
And sure I've sold rights and options, and written a Star Trek cartoon and sold an Outer Limits episode, but it's not the same as walking into a theater. Movies cost a lot more than options do.
Yes, I would like to see my works made into movies. All of them. Short stories as well as novels. Why not? A movie doesn't ruin a book; the book is still there, unchanged, and may even see a larger audience. See Vince Gerardis of Created By, my agent, if you've just won a lottery."
Read Larry's answers to the other most popular questions posted.
24th February 2003
After Larry visited Industrial Light and Magic, Nesssus emailed him to ask what went on:
Nesssus: I didn't realise that you would be attending ILM so soon, but if there was a standing invitation for me to go there, I would have jumped at the chance and it wouldn't have taken very long to have found the time either.
Larry: I delayed too long in making a chance to meet anyone. I lucked out in getting dinner companions Tuesday. After the show (TechTV, The Screen Savers, 6-7 minutes interview) I went off with another guest, a gaming entrepreneur, Chris Di Bona, and some of his crew.
Nesssus: What were your impressions of the Ranch itself?
Larry: Didn't get there this trip. The timing was crazy: I'd have had to skip the autographing.
Nesssus: Did you get a guided tour?
Larry: Yes. Most interesting.
Nesssus: Did you get to see any special effect works in progress whilst there, perhaps for Episode 3?
Larry: I was shown a montage and some trailers. The tour included some lecturing on special effect techniques.
Nesssus: Who attended your storytelling session?
Larry: Nobody I knew, except a guy who once wanted a novel for movie rights.
Nesssus: Did you meet with anyone famous whilst there?
Larry: No.
Nesssus: You mentioned in your letters to Carol that ILM had expressed interest in some of your short stories, was this discussed with you, and if so, what stories were they interested in?
Larry: Jeroen is the interested party, and it would be a little deal: more a training exercise than a movie project. He hadn't picked a story.
8th February 2003 - Larry Visits I.L.M.
Information in his February letters to the site told us that Larry has been invited to speak the Skywalker Ranch, the Home of Industrial Light and Magic (makers of Star Wars).
A guy at the Ranch is interested in some of Larry's short stories.
13th November 2001
The Albacon Trip Report relates Larry's experiences of flying following the events of September 11th, of visiting New York and the offices of his agent, and also comments briefly on the announcement he made at the Albacon Convention about the forthcoming Ringworld Movie. The article says:
".....Having told Marilyn (Larry's wife - Nesssus) about the Mandell accord, I felt free to speak of it to the audience. It never occurred to me that I was speaking for the Internet, for someone who would garble the data....."
When Larry returned home to California after the convention several days later, he found a call waiting from his movie agent.
"....Call from Vince Gerardis, my TV/movie agent. I called back. He's seen an announcement on a Hollywood web page. It derives from what I said during Saturday evening's interview. Vince is sure it'll shoot down any movie deal that might have been made. Damn. I wasn't told to keep my mouth shut, but I also didn't realize I was talking for the Internet....."
Let us hope that the early-breaking news story did not sour the deal as Larry fears.
15th October 2001
Unfortunately, no matter how much we would all like it to be true, the report below by Dan Procopio is now known to be completely false. The movie is still no closer to getting the official "green light".
9th October 2001
Larry was Guest of Honor at the Albacon convention this past weekend and announced that on 6th October Larry, Robert Mandel and James Cameron ....... (yes JAMES CAMERON), had signed a deal to make the Ringworld Movie.
Dan Procopio, who attended the convention reported that Larry "was very excited and said, 'Imagine seeing a Pierson's Puppeteer coming at you on screen.' No other details about the movie were forthcoming, although Larry did talk about his ongoing projects including the fourth sequel to Ringworld, the forthcoming novelRingworld's Children.
28th April 2001
Nothing further has been heard about the movie, however the Writer's Strike in Hollywood is delaying many movie and televison projects alike.
29th December 2000
The Ain't It Cool News website reports on the rumor that Yun-Fat Chow has been approached to star in the movie as Louis Wu. Apparently, Yun-Fat has read the Ringworld novel and is interested in the part. The anonymous movie insider who has leaked this unconfirmed information said that the producers are aiming at a $75-$80 million dollar budget for the movie. The insider also hints that shooting may begin in March 2001 - but this could possibly be set back by the upcoming writers strike.
A first draft of the script has apparently been written, although Larry Niven has confirmed that he is not involved in the project personally. Yun-Fat Chow recently starred in the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and also with Jodie Foster in Anna and the King. Yun-Fat has also recently starred in The Replacement Killers and The Corruptor. Prior to these western films, Yun Fat Chow is the veteran of many Chinese and Cantonese films, as can be seen from his listing in the Internet Movie Database.Born in 1955, I personally think Yun-Fat may be too old to play the perpetually youthful appearance of Louis Wu, who according to the novel had the appearance of a twenty year old, even though he really was a wizened man of 200 (kept young and healthy by using the rejuvinating drug Boosterspice). However Louis Wu was of an oriental descent, so at least the producers have kept that much true to the original novel.
6th November 2000
Space.com reports that the movie rumors surrounding the long-heralded Ringworld Movie finally has names attached to the project: Phil Tippett & Robert Mandel.
The Hollywood Reporter, states that Phil Tippett is to direct and co-produce the film with Robert Mandel and it will be action orientated like other movies he has recently been involved with such as the highly praised Starship Troopers
According to the Internet Movie Database, some of Phil Tippett's other works include designing the deadly Bugs for Robert A Heinlein's Starship Troopers which he also co-produced, creating the Dragon in Dragonheart, he was also visual effects supervisor for My Favourite Martian and he was the dino supervisor for Jurassic Park. Phil was associate producer of Robocop and assisted with the ED-209 sequence. Although not exactly a claim to fame - he came out from behind the scenes at ILM (George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic Inc.) and acted as an extra (behind an alien mask) in Star Wars, he also did stop-motion imaging for Howard the Duck No production or release schedule is yet available about the movie project.
27th April 1997
QDE Entertainment obtained the movie rights to Ringworld and the movie was said to be in development. This site is a little sparse but Red Raider welcomes updates, so email him if you have any information. (See also Science Fiction Weekly's News of the Week, April 21 1997.