Denis Villeneuve has a new sci-fi epic on way after Dune, probably on Arthur C Clarke’s Rendezvous with Rama

Denis Villeneuve, the visionary director behind the acclaimed Dune, has embarked on an ambitious new project, sparking fervent speculation that it might be the much-anticipated adaptation of Arthur C Clarke's seminal science fiction work, Rendezvous with Rama.

What

The revelation came to light during a recent episode of the A Script Apart podcast, where Eric Roth, the accomplished screenwriter of Martin Scorsese’s latest, Killers of the Flower Moon, disclosed that he had clandestinely penned a screenplay for Villeneuve. 

Villeneuve's connection to the sci-fi novel predates the announcement of his Cleopatra project, underscoring the director's enduring fascination with the material. 

Despite the release of Dune in 2021 and its upcoming 2024 sequel, the allure of the blockbuster film persists, as does the admiration for Villeneuve's directorial prowess. Fans eagerly anticipate any news related to the filmmaker and his foray into new book-based cinematic ventures.

"Arrival on steroids"

Roth's description of the screenplay as an "epic space and time drama" aligns with Villeneuve's earlier tease about an adaptation.

The director had previously likened the project to "Arrival on steroids" during an episode of Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast, where he also hinted at the imminent commencement of the screenplay.

Roth's indirect update, stating, "It’s about space and time, and it’s very lonely. It’s certainly about eternity," has also become a focal point for fans. 

Despite the absence of specific details, enthusiasts are already envisioning Villeneuve's space-time drama as a potential rival to the iconic masterpieces crafted by the late Stanley Kubrick, particularly drawing comparisons to 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Hindu inspiration

• Rendezvous with Rama, originally penned by Clarke in 1973, unfolds in the 2130s and revolves around a colossal cylindrical alien starship entering the Solar System. 
• The narrative is presented through the eyes of human explorers striving to unlock the mysteries concealed within the extraterrestrial vessel. 

The novel also draws upon Hindu mythology for its eponymous influence. 

• In Hinduism, Rama is a revered figure and the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu. Associated with righteousness and virtue, Lord Rama is a central character in the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana.
• Clarke chose the name "Rama" for the mysterious cylindrical alien starship in his work seemingly as a nod to the divine and enigmatic qualities associated with the Hindu deity. 

Clarke's work garnered critical acclaim, winning both the Hugo and Nebula awards and standing as a cornerstone in his literary legacy.

Fans eagerly await fresh updates from Villeneuve's presumed cinematic spectacle, a space-time drama that promises to captivate audiences and perhaps echo the grandeur of Clarke's timeless narrative.