How about making the TV series start where Atlas Shrugged ends- basically the beginning of a new society this time really based on individual and property rights.

An Atlas Shrugged TV series is a very promising idea, and I'm all in favor of it - few things reach a larger audience over a longer period than a TV series. TV also has a rather unique quality of 'familiarity' in that regular, weekly characters are perceived as almost part of the family, being as they are seen in one's home every week, week after week. This can be very persuasive, and politically powerful. Look at Star Trek, which ran only three seasons and was cancelled almost 50 years ago - and today is more recognized and influential than ever. The 50s vs. "the day after tomorrow" question is a no-brainer: We are trying to influence people to create and live in a better future, not to see Rand and her work as a part of the past. The other side of that coin is that TV series inevitably wind down, and are cancelled and replaced; as George Santayana said "For an idea ever to be fashionable is ominous, since it must afterwards be always old-fashioned." One additional thought: Frequent cast changes aren't a problem for an anthology-structured show!

Thanks and take care

If you have high speed internet you can get a lot of tv via streaming online. Many local OTA (over the air) digital broadcasts are streamed at no charge legally. Have a look at the Kodi (formerly XBMC) software to use on a pc. (Don't know if there is a mac version.) This can also be done using an Amazon fire tv device with extra programming added (Kodi.)

Definitely the day after tomorrow. OR, at the very earliest 6 years ago to time with the advent of Obama.

I am really looking forward to this!
I do hope it will be published as a DVD collection because I do not have cable or any other pay TV. I refuse to pay for TV when they get paid from advertising! I am on an old antenna and watch local free TV with a lot of commercials!
Thank you John!

I would love for the setting to be in the Fifties. I felt as if the movie setting, with all it's really modernly futuristic, round-edges took away from the picture I got from the novel, which was much more art deco fifties futuristic style. I think the costumes and technology would be more interesting on screen too. Clothing from that era is very slick for both sexes, and very no nonsense for early to middle aged adults. Also, period technology, like type writers, have visible moving parts. I felt, too, that since the Fifties had such a radio culture, and the book's pivotal moments in Act 3 took place over radio most times, so it just makes sense. I'm really excited and I can't wait!

The day after tomorrow would be better. I like the idea of flashbacks to other policies that got us into this mess. Can you add people talking about the Constitution, so that Americans understand what it is and how it works?

nice to see you i. there are currently period pieces which are big hits...but I tend to agree, partly because I'd LOVE to see a cool high-tech Gulch(underwater city-seastead)-not some mountain town throwback to the turn of the 20th century

OK, so while it would be really sexy to make it a period piece.. Stick with the day after tomorrow. If the goal is to have a real impact it would be difficult to make a period piece that people can identify with, since that is a time that has come and gone already. With a near future its something that is on the way. By making it close enough that the world is recognizable you actually make an even larger impact.

You know, I believe what you are saying. We are nearing a breaking point. The rate in which the world is changing is making it difficult for governments to adapt and adjust making that breaking point happen much quicker than most anticipate. My own belief along with the point you make, it that as a society we have gotten so far outside the lines of how a society should function (work ethic, integrity just to name 2) that in order to get back to some sense of normalcy something big has to happen that gets the public to a turning point where they are forced to change course. Unfortunately that big event usually means a lot of suffering and death.

I watched a documentary awhile ago that compared civilizations and how long they lasted. Their point was that in history, 250 years seems to be the point at which each of the big and powerful civilizations in the past have collapsed, mostly due to the fact the citizens forgot what made them big and powerful in the first place. It seems that has happened here too. Basing our system on some belief in their version of a "god" (whatever that means) wasnt great, but some of the ideas they used in the consititution were quite revolutionary and good. Even the founding fathers talked about how some people would eventually use the government to further their own agendas, and thats whats happened.

"the day after tomorrow" using current and recent past news events. Commercial free Netflix would be great for those of us who are members but why limit to one venue. A broadcast series on CBS/NBC/ABC etc would potentially reach a much greater audience. And if done right it could be educational as well as entertaining. An HBO/Showtime miniseries would be fantastic. I hate commercials, so I'll dvd it regardless.

I second that!

I believe we can find good actors to fill in. Many today are in the closet not wanting to express their conservative view now. That may change once Obama leaves office. What I would hate to see is a good person filling a role only to find out later that they are bashing the concepts on some TV talk show. That would ruin everything we have put together.

One of the mistakes I believe the founding fathers made was basing written documents like the constitution on the honor system, assuming that most people would act in the best interests of the country and that man would act to place the interests of the country before their own ambitions. Electing George Washington the first President set the standard for others to follow. Unfortunately many have forgotten the struggle it took to get us here. As we can see now Obama is using the constitution against us in a similar way as the terrorists have our own laws against us. The fathers overall had very good vision based and in my opinion had many ideas covered. They could not have envisioned the type of globalization we experience today or the impact of the internet. The group certainly had their flaws but considering their varying personalities they gave us the greatest form of government the world has ever known. Their belief in God in my opinion helped shape a moral character for our country and the laws that govern us.

The idea of TV series seems attractive at first; however, the thought needs a great deal of analysis before committing to a project. Consider that the fundamental morality behind Atlas Shrugged is the negative effects that religions have on all societies. Although Miss Rand never condemns religion directly, in so many words in the novel, she implies it many times over in character dialog. The detrimental moral code she speaks of is accepted by about 4/5 of the world’s population, meaning that 4/5 of the worlds population has accepted a religion and has identified and practice at least some, if not all, of the stated doctrines common to the religion, leaving only 20% of the world population with a morality that might comprehend the message behind Atlas Shrugged. The other 80% will not be capable of assembling the message and, therefore, any series, movie, or adaptation of the book will most likely result in abject failure. At best, only one reviewer in 5 will be capable of producing a rational positive review. The remaining reviewers will not comprehend the message and, therefore, will be most likely produce negative reviews no matter how good the adaptation might be. Keep in mind also, that reviewers are products from journalism schools and, therefore, have been exposed to the very morality behind the purpose of the strike. Conclusion: Atlas Shrugged is not a piece of literature that is adaptable to the screen or TV. The message cannot be understood by 80% of society. Based on this analysis, any project that attempts to project the message of Atlas Shrugged will meet with failure, to say nothing about the almost insurmountable task of finding a casting agency, writers, directors, and actors who fully understand that Atlas Shrugged is not just a story, but an entire theory of life beyond the societal constraints of religions. The task is not impossible, but highly improbable, and as much as I would love to see a proper adaptation of the novel, I highly recommend to not undertake this project. Let the book stand on its own merits as it has for almost 60 years. No matter what time zone the project might be set in, it cannot project the message to an audience that cannot comprehend it. Stop now, and avoid any further embarrassment from those who can't understand.

"the day after tomorrow" time frame sounds great. I'd like to see it put to the test: let's see if the project can withstand the gubment's meddling with media to steer the messages we receive on our home screens.

I would prefer that we bring the story up to date in modern context. Therefore I lean for the day after tomorrow. However, You can have it both ways. What I mean is I would seriously consider using fading shots where the series looks back at the industrialist years ago. Include visions/ reflections of the founding fathers. Using examples of how socialism has failed in past governments etc The story lines are endless. Most importantly this series can and should bring in new viewers not just where we preach to ourselves. We have the opportunity to start a movement in this country if this series in done correctly. If we can get a following like House of Cards or even a fraction of it we will be on our way to making a difference. We all know the series Star Trek made a huge impact on young people and many of its on screen innovations are now reality. Possibly this series can make a similar impact in the way people will view government.

I just hope it can come on at a time I can watch it. Prime time for most people is when I go to bed. But, if it runs like most shows, the reruns will be on all the time depending on the channel that carries the series.

Fantastic News!
In answer to; Should the Atlas Shrugged television series be a period piece set in the 1950s or should it take place, as Ayn Rand alluded to, "the day after tomorrow?"
Why not be creative and do both? Start out in the near future ten or twenty years from now and then do flash back scenes or episodes, for each of the main charters depicting how things got that way.
I will use an example: An ex-Airforce pilot that became an Astronaut until they shut down NASA, and he moved on to becoming an Airline Pilot, until the airlines shut down because they didn't have enough qualified people to handle the technology, and he had taken his last job with the trains before the collapse. This would be a wide field of remberances to provide flash back scenes. Since technology will unravel when there is not the brain power to support it, technology will naturally reverse. The foundation of the charters lives can be used to demonstrate this as they ask the question; "How did it get this way"?

If there is a kickstarter let me know.

This sounds like you want to present the book, not as a clear presentation of ideas, which are relevant, regardless of the time span, but a historical book, sticking to the specifics of the story. Either one would probably work, but the ideas are the important issues, not the background.

I like the idea. It needs to post the episodes on the web for viewing offline. I don't watch scheduled TV any more.

Setting? Tomorrow.