Sci-Fi Storm

Lionsgate may be in damage control, more than three months before Ender’s Game is released to theaters.

Orson Scott Card, who wrote Ender’s Game originally as a short story in 1977 and later expanded it into a novel, is a well known critic of gay marriage rights, and is a practicing Mormon. Fearful of a boycott of the movie being called for by Geeks Out, due to be released November 1st, Lionsgate is distancing itself far from Card, with the author not taking part in the Ender’s Game panel next week.

Now today, they issued a press release calling the author’s views “irrelevant”:

As proud longtime supporters of the LGBT community, champions of films ranging from Gods and Monsters to The Perks of Being a Wallflower and a company that is proud to have recognized same-sex unions and domestic partnerships within its employee benefits policies for many years, we obviously do not agree with the personal views of Orson Scott Card and those of the National Organization for Marriage. However, they are completely irrelevant to a discussion of Ender’s Game. The simple fact is that neither the underlying book nor the film itself reflect these views in any way, shape or form. On the contrary, the film not only transports viewers to an entertaining and action-filled world, but it does so with positive and inspiring characters who ultimately deliver an ennobling and life-affirming message. Lionsgate will continue its longstanding commitment to the LGBT community by exploring new ways we can support LGBT causes and, as part of this ongoing process, will host a benefit premiere for Ender’s Game.

Only time will tell if potential movie-goers will consider it “irrelevant”…

According to Variety (paid subscription may be required), Harrison Ford is returning to space, having been confirmed for the role of Colonel Hyram Graff in Ender’s Game, based on Orson Scott Card’s novel and adapted and directed by Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine).

Graff is in charge of training at a military academy, which Andrew “Ender” Wiggin attends after showing an aptitude for military decision making, where the students are trained to help battle the insectoid Formics.

Looks like [asin=0812550706]Ender’s Game[/asin], the short story that became a novel that became a series by Orson Scott Card, last seen at Warner Bros. as a potential movie, is now headed to Summit Entertainment and appears to be on the fast track to begin production early next year. Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) is set to direct, with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (via their K/O Paper Products company) and Gigi Pritzker and Linda McDonough (Odd Lot), along with Card and Lynn Hendee (The Tempest) as producers.

It appears that they are eying this to be the next Harry Potter-esque franchise with an epic story aimed at the younger audience.