More Fiction to Film

A film version of The Ruins, Scott Smith’s 2006 novel--his first in 13 years--will go into production in Australia later this month. The movie is being produced by Ben Stiller and Stuart Cornfeld, and IGN recently reported that the starring roles have been cast:

Laura Ramsey, Jena Malone and Shawn Ashmore have all signed on to star in the flick, according to today’s Hollywood Reporter. Ramsey recently starred in Lords of Dogtown and The Covenant. Malone is best known for her turns in Saved! and Donnie Darko. And IGN readers will know Ashmore as Bobby/Iceman in the X-Men movies.

Last July, when Tony Buchsbaum reviewed The Ruins for January Magazine, he had no trouble visualizing the film that might be made:

Recently, while reading The Ruins, a delicious and devious tale of horror, I was once again blown away by the author’s crisp, clearly-focused way with a scene. He paints each one like a great artist, yet also holds back, sharing only the bits and pieces of detail that you need to make the scene your own.

Nor was Buchsbaum shy with his praise:

If the script is even half as well-made and as visually striking as the book, the reviews for both will be brilliant.

Smith himself wrote the screen adaptation for The Ruins.