Fahrenheit 451 is coming to the screen. Variety reports that HBO is developing a TV film of Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, starring Michael B. Jordan as Montag, the young fireman who has a crisis of conscience when he begins to believe that burning books is wrong, and Michael Shannon as Beatty, Montag’s captain and mentor.
The film will be directed by Ramin Bahrani, whose previous films include Man Push Cart, Chop Shop (which Roger Ebert cited as the 6th best film of the 2000s), and, most recently, 99 Homes. Bahrani will co-write the film with Amir Naderi, writer/director of The Runner and Vegas: Based on a True Story.
Bradbury’s 1953 novel depicts a society where books are outlawed, and people instead spend their time in front of the parlor walls, essentially floor-to-ceiling televisions. Montag begins to reconsider his actions as he realizes that his wife is succumbing to depression, and the only bright spot in his life is provided by a young neighbor, Clarisse, who encourages him to think for himself and challenge his assumptions. The book was previously adapted by François Truffaut in 1966.
