In this issue:

Issac Asimov's Foundation Script Is Done
Morgan Freeman Still Pushes Rendezvous With Rama
Paul Walker Drops Out Of the running for Superman
MIB III In Works?
Rumors and Tidbits

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Issac Asimov's Foundation Script Is Done

John Rogers (co-screenwriter of The Core) told SCI FI Wire that he has finished a screenplay for a film adaptation of Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy of SF books for director Shekhar Kapur. "He said to focus on the 'Mule' arc in the second book, and that was the way in," Rogers said in an interview. "Now we'll see if it's one movie, two or three."

The adaptation required Rogers to pull out pieces of action from a largely theoretical work. "Isaac Asimov is a real intellectual, so chapters would start with 'That was a thrilling escape from the space pirates, wasn't it? Yes, it was. Now about economics.' As a writer, I need the space pirates. I just can't have the economics discussion here. So there was a lot of trying to stay in the spirit of Asimov [while] at the same time expanding the text." No studio attachment or production start date has been announced.
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Morgan Freeman Still Pushes Rendezvous With Rama

Actor Morgan Freeman told SCI FI Wire that he's still intent on producing an adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's award-winning novel Rendezvous With Rama and is just waiting on a final script. "The bugaboo there is the script," Freeman said in an interview while promoting his upcoming film Dreamcatcher. "A picture like this, that is written by Arthur C. Clarke, the problem is trying to get someone to understand what it is."

Rama follows a team of astronauts sent to explore a mysterious cylindrical object that has suddenly appeared in our solar system. Freeman will star in the film, with David Fincher (Seven, Panic Room) set to direct.

Freeman said that the script has gone through several drafts in an effort to balance the commercial aspects with the science of Clarke's original story. "These things, they always want to make it into an action film," Freeman said. "So you've got to cowboy it up a little bit. You can't do it with this. And we've been having trouble getting someone to see the science aspect of this, the exploratory aspects of it, rather than the blood and guts and stuff."

The project remains a priority for Freeman, who has been involved in bringing it to the screen for more than two and a half years. "It's not in limbo," he insisted. "We're pushing hard at it constantly."
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Paul Walker Drops Out Of the running for Superman

Paul Walker (Timeline) has dropped out of the running for the lead role in the proposed Superman movie, balking at the seven-year commitment to the franchise, Variety reported. That leaves Brendan Fraser and soap star Matthew Bomer as the two likeliest candidates for the part, the trade paper reported.

That trio did screen tests with director Brett Ratner, but Walker was the only one who had an option to remove himself from consideration, the trade paper reported. He did that on March 13, joining Josh Hartnett, who also turned down the role.
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MIB III In Works?

Columbia has started development on a third installment of its Men in Black film franchise, Variety columnist Michael Fleming reported. Director Barry Sonnenfeld is returning to develop a sequel idea pitched to him by star Will Smith with Tommy Lee Jones.

But producer Walter Parkes and Sonnenfeld don't get along, Fleming reported. Sonnenfeld dropped out of Lemony Snicket when Paramount invited DreamWorks to partner. Smith and Jones won't do the film without Sonnenfeld, so Sony's plan is to let the director run with Smith's concept. Parkes would take a back seat, Fleming reported.
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Rumors and Tidbits

Benicio Del Toro denied for SCI FI Wire rumors that he is seeking the title role in Guillermo del Toro's proposed Creature From the Black Lagoon remake. "I don't want to do it, but I have ideas about it," Del Toro said in an interview.