Corona | Coming Attractions

Author Ben Bova has been writing science fiction novels for five decades. He co-authored the novelization of THX 1138, George Lucas' first film. He's even served as a science consultant on a few Hollywood movies. So why hasn't there been any movies based on his books so far?

Maybe the writer can do something about that.

Bova has a production company called B-Four and in partnership with Red Giant Media the two companies are hoping to get one of the novelist's books, The Immortality Factor, all the way through the development process. Screenwriter Kevin Fox (The Negotiator) will adapt the book and also get a producer credit on the feature along with Isen Robbins, Grant Turck and Aimee Schoof.

But if you're a fan of sci-fi and thinking that this Bova project will feature planets and spaceships, think again. Immortality Factor is more along the lines of a technical thriller like one of Michael Crichton's works; the book deals with the ethical debate arising from a scientific breakthrough to grow replacement organs and limbs from the injured patient's own body. The political, religious and philosophical arguements that arise from this medical milestone is reduced to a personal level through the story of the main character, the scientist that made the discovery. The scientist's brother is a politician on the opposite side of the debate, married to a woman who both men love but is close to dying unless the organ replacement technology is used on her.

Bova originally published The Immortality Factor back in 1996 under the title Brothers and before the debate over stem cell research had started. The new book incorporates the latest real news from the cutting edge and updates the premise.