PKDs Man in the High Castle coming to TV soon

I dont know if this has been posted about already but reading thru the March reading thread reminded me of this project. The BBC is collaborating with Ridley Scott for a TV series based on the book. Ive never read it but it could be good-just hope those across the pond will get to see it!

PKD seems an odd choice for the BBC. There are so many fine British writers whose books they could base a series on.

To quote (or paraphrase, perhaps, maybe) David Cameron, "Just because we can't do the right thing everywhere doesn't mean we shouldn't do the right thing somewhere."

Thank you, sf_addict for bringing this to my attention.

I wonder if they will follow the book or just use the general idea, as has been the case with most PKD adaptations, including Mr. Ridley Scott's ultra-famous effort (which I love and watch over and over and over - no matter what cut).

Theres also a remake of Total Recall in the works (groan) and a small scale production of one of his stories but I forget the title. All I know is it got slated in the previews-it was very low budget tho.

#2, why? Why should the BBC only film british authors works?

#2

I would guess that part of it is an eye on international sales. Part of it is an eye to attracting audiences - general people have heard of PKD now (the only British writer to have that level of recognition would be Arthur C. Clarke). This was probably important to get FremantleMedia Enterprises on board as a development partner (presumably picking up a good proportion of the costs). FreemantleMedia will have the international distribution rights.

#5, I was thinking that they'd do a better job with homegrown product, which they'd presumably understand better. Would you want to see an all-USA production of Pride and Prejudice? PKD is so very Californian.

I do understand andyl's point about viability of the project. For some reason, no doubt Ridley Scott in large part, PKD is the real SF author whom filmmakers are most likely to go for.

Jack Vance's demolitions of cultural pretension seem to me to be very promising for the BBC approach. Think of the costumes we'd see! But he's not on the film industry's radar.

#4 sf_addict
Did you read the original short story Total Recall was based on? It's "We Can Remember if for You Wholesale". The ending is priceless.

#7, no but then I dont want to see a british production either ;)
#8 no not read We Can Remember..." yet- I need a PKD collection

For all, just in case you didnt know, Ubik is optioned by Michael Gondry, also there's this:

http://totaldickhead.blogspot.com/2011/03/in-defense-of-art.html

PKD is pretty Californian, yes, but Man in the High Castle exceptionally so, I think. It seems like an odd choice to me too.

UBIK is way overdue for screens.

#9 I need a PKD collection
There is a five volume collection of PKD's short stories. I have it in paperback.

Also, for the reall Dick aficionado Subterranean Press has started producing a luxury set of volumes of his short stories. See below:

Volume 1

Volume 2

>sf_addict

I have The Philip K Dick Reader, which is available in paperback and has most of his well-known short stories (and many less-known titles as well.)

#11 man are those expensive! I used to have a copy of his called Beyond Lies the Wub in Yellow Gollancz, but never got round to reading it before the big clear out.

#14 Beyond Lies the Wub in Yellow Gollancz, but never got round to reading it before the big clear out.

Too bad. The title story in that is quite funny.

#15
Yea I had a lot of books but had to get rid of most of them when I relocated.

sf_addict@14,

I wonder how many of the stories in those books he sold, originally, for less than the cost of the book?

#17
Using the USA CPI, if PKD sold a story for $40 in Feb 1969 it would be the equivalent of receiving $247.27 for a story in Feb 2011.

If he sold a story in Feb 1969 for the then equivalent of $40 in Feb 2011 he would have received $6.47.

I'm English but I like to think I can understand Californian. Anyway it's Japanese-Californian ~ hope they keep the I Ching in.

#11

The Subterranean set is the set I am getting now. I've previously had this set:
http://www.philipkdick.com/covers/stories-psm.jpg

and this set:
http://www.philipkdick.com/covers/collectedstoriesvol1.jpg

but ex's took them both. drat.

That second "set" is a nightmare, due to stupid moves on the part of the publisher. It's also a nightmare to keep disambiguated and sorted out on LT.

http://www.librarything.com/series/The+Collected+Stories+of+Philip+K.+Dick