HBO Films has shared the first official photo from Fahrenheit 451, its forthcoming adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel set in a future where reading is outlawed and books are burned. It’s, appropriately, an action shot of firefighter Guy Montag (Michael B. Jordan) letting the flames fly on some contraband reading, while his superior Beatty (Michael Shannon) looks on approvingly.
More info from the press release:
Based on Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel which depicts a future where media is an opiate, history is outlawed and “firemen” burn books, Fahrenheit 451 follows Montag, a young fireman who forsakes his world, battles his mentor Beatty and struggles to regain his humanity. Michael B. Jordan, Michael Shannon, Laura Harrier, Sophia Boutella and Lilly Singh star. The film is directed by Ramin Bahrani, who also serves as executive producer with Sarah Green, Michael B. Jordan, Alan Gasmer and Peter Jaysen; David Coatsworth produces. Ramin Bahrani and Amir Naderi are co-writers.
Interesting detail/nitpick: Montag’s uniform has 451 on it, presumably the number of his company, though the title comes from the autoignition temperature of paper.
Seeing as the photo comes from HBO Films, it’s safe to assume that this adaptation of Fahrenheit 451, as with the others, will be a movie instead of a television series. It makes sense, as the original book makes for a pretty slim volume, but in an era of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale expanding its source material, you never know.
The film is currently in production; no word yet on release date.
Very excited for this. I think F451 is often not given the credit it deserves because it’s become a widely accepted text – makes the “required reading” lists in schools and so on (which could be another way of “burning” a book – tell kids they have to read it.) But it’s still beautifully crafted and incredibly relevant.
If I remember correctly, it’s mentioned in the book that the number “451” appears on the firemen’s badges– not as a company number, but for the reason you mention: paper burns at that temperature, and it’s therefore symbolic.
I sure hope this ends up being a Pleasure to watch.
451 degrees F is not really the temperature at which paper catches fire if ignited by a match or a flamethrower or whatever — it’s the auto-ignition temperature, at which it spontaneously ignites from heat alone. And it isn’t necessarily that exact temperature, because it varies with the type of paper. Specifics here:
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2012/06/ray_bradbury_death_does_paper_really_burn_at_451_degrees_fahrenheit_.html
Somehow, I missed that Michael B. Jordan had been cast as lead in this.
My interest level in this adaptation just jumped by like 1000%
I realize we’re conditioned to say “firefighter” now, but can you correct the use in the article to “firemen?”
Because these firemen are definitely not firefighters…
Oh good, I was worried there was going to be a lack of dystopian TV shows this fall.
Oh, hey! I was just going to google this. I saw a bunch of signs for filming for this yesterday and wanted to know what’s what about it. I