Variety is reporting that Fox 2000 has acquired the rights to Joe Haldeman’s 1974 science fiction novel The Forever War for director Ridley Scott, who plans to make it his first science fiction film since Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982).  After he finished Blade Runner, Scott had planned to make The Forever War, but couldn’t acquire the rights.

Scott told Variety, “I first pursued Forever War 25 years ago, and the book has only grown more timely and relevant since.  It’s a science-fiction epic, a bit of The Odyssey by way of Blade Runner, built upon a brilliant, disorienting premise.”

Haldeman’s novel was based very closely on his experiences in the Vietnam War, which he transposed to outer space.  Haldeman used the time mechanics of interstellar travel (the soldiers are fighting in deep space for a tour of only a few months, but when they return to earth it is 20 years later) as a device to mirror the disconnect that he and other Vietnam veterans felt when they returned Stateside after a tour in 'Nam.  The tactics used in the space war against an unseen enemy and the government’s relentless propaganda operations also reflect Haldeman’s perception of the conflict in South Vietnam.

The Belgian artist Marvano has created a graphic novel trilogy adapting The Forever War (published here by NBM) using a scintillating “clear line” art style.  Joe Haldeman himself provided the script for the graphic novel series supplying all the dialogue and describing the action like he would for a movie.  The result is one of the most faithful graphic novel adaptations ever.  NBM's English language version of The Forever War is currently out of print, but when contacted by ICv2, NBM's Terry Nantier noted, "we would certainly want to bring it back out should the movie go into production."

A new trade paperback edition of Haldeman's orginal novel is due out from St. Martins in March of 2009 (ISBN 978-0312536633).