Movie Based on Iconic ’90s Sci-Fi Book in Works at Warner Bros.

A landmark work of speculative fiction that resonated with modern audiences during the pandemic is finally making its way to the big screen. Warner Bros. has secured the rights to adapt Octavia E. Butler’s prescient 1993 novel, Parable of the Sower, tapping a visionary director to bring the dystopian odyssey to life.

A movie adaptation of Parable of the Sower is in development

Melina Matsoukas has found her next directorial project in Octavia E. Butler’s landmark sci-fi odyssey Parable of the Sower, Variety reported. Matsoukas, known for her multicultural storytelling in Queen & Slim and Insecure, will direct and produce the film adaptation for Warner Bros.

The book, originally published in 1993 and described as a “notable book of the year” by the New York Times, experienced a massive resurgence in 2020. It became a NYT bestseller 27 years after its debut, as readers found its depiction of societal collapse amid climate and economic crises eerily relevant. The story is about Lauren Olamina, a young woman in early 2020s California who suffers from hyperempathy. It is a draining sensitivity to the pain of others. As anarchy engulfs her community, she fights not just for survival, but for a new vision of humanity’s future.

Butler’s work stands alongside 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale for its prophetic examination of society. “But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith and a startling vision of human destiny,” the book’s synopsis states.

Now, Melina Matsoukas brings a distinct visual and narrative voice to the property. She made her feature directorial debut with Queen & Slim and is also known for iconic music videos, including Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning “Formation.” She will produce the movie through her company De La Revolucion, along with names such as Inga Veronique, according to Variety.

Source: Comingsoon.net