Coppola's "On the Road"

I understand Coppola is bringing to the big screen Kerouac’s “On the Road.” Anyone hear anything about it? Stars?

I think Walter Salles is set to direct it now.

This is one that’s been kicking around for quite a while.

I saw at Borders the “Scrolled Version” of On The Road I think it was called, it was an uncensored original version that seemed to be almost twice as thick, I dont think it was available when I first read it but damnit I have to read it again! anyways perhaps he’ll do that version? has anyone read that version?

Jeff,

The differences are mostly formal. The “scroll” version is unparagraphed, the real names of the people involved in the story are used, and some of the sexual stuff is written about more explicitly. The biggest difference in terms of plot is that the ending is a little more ambiguous. Coppola has the novelist Russell Banks (Egoyan’s “The Sweet Hereafter” and Paul Schrader’s " Affliction " are adaptations of Banks’ novels) write a screenplay a while back, but I think Jose Rivera (who collaborated with Salles on The Motorcycle Diaries) is writing the screenplay that while be used for shooting the film.

i haven’t read any kerouac but im a big fan of the beat writers. im currently reading charles bukowski and still trying to read burrough’s naked lunch (i love the film though)

@siriusdan: Don’t mention the word >Beatnik< and Bukowski in one sentence, please ;) Hank didn’t have anything to do with the ‘Beat Generation’.

Speaking of Kerouac’s On The Road – has anybody seen The Last Time I Committed Suicide (a movie based on a letter written by Neal Cassady to Kerouac)? I honestly found it very dull (tho the soundtrack was kinda cool).

I would love to see Kerouac’s Town and the City adapted into a film. While wishing, I feel Wim Weders would be my preferred director.

I’ve seen The Last Time I Committed Suicide. I was disappointed.

Project moving forward. Set to shoot in August. Kirsten Dunst just joined the cast which also includes the Twilight girl. Ugh. On the other hand, Sam Riley who did a nice job as Ian Curtis in Control is also in it. But I have no idea who this Garrett Hedlund is – the person playing Dean (from photos he looks like a poor man’s Michael Pitt – who would have actually been pretty good in the role). Salles directing it seems unfortunate. Will it be as plodding and pointless as The Motorcycle Diaries?

not crazy about the cast, bit of a Kerouac fanatic, thought the director of Old Joy and Wendy and Lucy shoulda done it

Stewart is better than the Twilight BS, I think she’ll do fine. That’s even if the project really gets going, which I hope it will.

Stewart was fine in a number of films before Twlight, she was even good in Catch that Kid

I hope this project dies. Adapting a beloved classic, Salles will probably err on the side of being too literal and steadfast. What made the Beats revolutionary and culturally important will be utterly lost in the process.

It will probably be quickly forgotten the same way Heartbeat with Nolte (as Cassady) was

-Will it be as plodding and pointless as The Motorcycle Diaries?-

With the same writer, cinematographer, production designer, and composer working with Salles again, On the Road even more loosely plotted than The Motorcycle Diaries, and nothing looking too promising in terms of the cast, it would seem that it will be.