Our idea of dystopian society is largely formed by Aldous Huxley’s 1932 novel, Brave New World. A series adaptation is currently running on NBC’s Peacock service, which is why you’ve seen Alden Ehrenreich so much lately. But Huxley’s final novel, Island, presented the polar opposite view, and Leonardo DiCaprio wants to give that its time in the spotlight.
DiCaprio’s Appian Way is producing a TV series based on Island, Aldous Huxley’s 1962 book which reads a little bit like The Beach, the Danny Boyle adaptation which DiCaprio starred in way back in 2000.
Here’s how Variety describes Island: “[The story] follows a cynical journalist shipwrecked on the fictional utopian island of Pala in the Indian Ocean. Originally tasked with exploiting Pala’s natural resources, he uncovers an independently developed society and embraces the people, their culture and traditions — including psychedelic adventures and alternative social structures. His experience alters the course of his mission.”
DiCaprio will serve as an exec-producer, alongside his father George, a producer on several documentaries focused on climate change. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Huxley deliberately used similar themes and story points for Island as he did in Brave New World, only taken from the opposite view. I’m curious to see the talent DiCaprio and Co. enlist for this. More news on that soon, hopefully.
