More than 25 years after Orson Scott Card released his seminal sci-fi novel, Ender's Game, the long gestating film adaptation is finally rounding into shape. In the works for nearly a decade, the project floundered under the guidance of Wolfgang Peterson. Multiple scripts, and Card's rigid view of how the film should go proved to be road blocks for awhile, but with the addition of Gavin Hood(Tsotsi) earlier this year to both write and direct, things appear to moving full steam ahead. So much so that it appears Hood has made his choice for the critical role of Andrew "Ender" Wiggin.
Deadline notes that an offer has been made to fast rising talent, Asa Butterfield, the star of Martin Scorsese's 3D adventure film, Hugo. After a small part in 2007's momentary hit, Son of Rambow, Butterfield has since shown his ability to work with some pretty heavy material as star of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. He'll need to bring his A-game if he's going to please fans who have helped keep Ender's Game so popular for the last two decades. Card's novel has led to multiple sequels, a video game, and a highly acclaimed series of Marvel comics.
Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman(Star Trek) are producing, and the plan is clearly to turn this into another huge franchise that can compete with the similar(at least on the surface) The Hunger Games. Ender's Game is set in a future Earth where an intergalactic war with an invading alien force rages. Child soldiers are recruited and trained to become military commanders in the fight. The first novel in the series follows Ender's training in Battle School through the use of simulations and anti-gravity scenarios. Children being drafted to fight and kill must be in style now. How soon before somebody starts plotting to remake Battle Royale again?
Ender's Game has been set for a March 15th 2013 release.
