George Orwell's 1984 Film Adaptation gets a Screenwriter

Imagine Entertainment is bringing a new take on George Orwell's 1984 to the screen. Deadline reports that Noah Oppenheim, who is also currently scripting The Secret Life of Houdini for Gary Ross, as well as remakes of Snabba Cash and War Games, has been tapped to adapt the classic novel about a future Britain under a totalitarian regime overseen by an omniscient Big Brother. For those that didn't read the book in high school, 1984 is the story of Winston Smith, who works for the Ministry of Truth destroying evidence of anything that contradicts the government's current positions. The plot takes shape when Winston flouts the ruling party by falling in love with the elusive Julia.

1984 is pretty much the gold standard of both dystopian science-fiction and literary political fiction. It casts a huge shadow over popular culture and is the source of concepts including Big Brother, doublethink, thoughtcrime, and memory hole. There are already numerous stage and screen adaptations. Do you think Oppenheim and producers Brian Grazer and Shepard Fairey have anything new to bring to the story? Do you think the lessons of 1984 will resonate with the Facebook generation?