Despite disinterest from critics and audiences alike, The Hollywood Reporter says that Atlas Distribution Co. is on track to complete its 3-part adaptation of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged with the final film Who is John Galt scheduled for September. The producers hope that the interest in the mid-term elections will translate into box-office success for a political thriller. Atlas Shrugged saw renewed interest in recent years both from opponents of President Barrack Obama and from fans of the hit video game Bioshock.
Part 3, Atlas Shrugged: Who is John Galt will introduce the third set of actors for the lead roles in as many movies. Laura Regan has the lead role as railroad executive Dagny Taggart, Rob Morrow as Hank Rearden, and Joaquim de Almeida as Francisco d’Anconia. Kristoffer Polaha has the title role as the mysterious John Galt. Also new to the project is director James Manera.
Atlas Shrugged the book is known less as a work of fiction and more as a vehicle for Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism. The notoriety of the source material did not translate into success for the movies Part 1 and 2, which each brought in less than $5 million at the box office. Producer Harmon Kaslow has announced plans to step up marketing in areas where the film was most popular in the hopes of drawing a greater crowd for the thrid and final chapter in this adaptation.