Chariots of the Gods to Race Across Big Screen

Don’t be fooled by the title. No Neptune or Apollo here. 

Well, not literally–this isn’t another sword and sandals epic. Actually, “Chariots of the Gods” by Erich von Daniken, is a book that is sort of nonfiction. By sort of, I mean that it is not a story, but actually a serious attempt to make the case that aliens visited different civilizatons on Earth long ago. Evidence consisted of things like ancient engravings and hieroglyphics that the author interpreted as depictions of the alien visitors and their spaceships. Also, the Great Pyramids, Stonehenge, Easter Island, and places like that? All built with alien technology. At least that’s what the book claims. So it was nonfiction to the author, and legions of readers; it was, I gather, a very trendy book amongst the Age of Aquarius/early New Age, crystal loving, ESP believing, flying saucer sighting cognoscenti. To others– and I suspect I would be one if I could be bothered to read such silliness–it is a bunch of claptrap.

The point, though, is that Variety says that Paradox Entertainment has picked up the rights to the book and is planning to make it into a science fiction film. There was a 1974 documentary based on the book. Again, I personally use the word documentary with some skepticism. I actually have a feeling, though, that making a standard sci-fi film using this idea as a starting point might be a much better idea than doing a doc. Could be kind of fun.

Paradox isn’t a big name in the Hollywood scene, but it does own the rights to Robert E. Howard’s work, and is doing a new version of “Conan the Barbarian.” I’m hoping they cast an actor in the lead this time.