Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s epic prog anthem Khan Evil 9 is the inspiration for a new sci-fi dystopian film, currently in development with a writer and director.
Isaac Ezban (The Incident, Parvross) will direct and Tim Hedrick (Avatar: The Last Airbender) will write the screenplay.
According to the official synopsis, “Zac, a brilliant but troubled musical genius, is invited to perform at a major music festival simulcasting the world’s most popular video games, only to discover that the game’s mysterious creators are promoting a terrifying new technology. In a tragic turn of events, the protagonist comes to believe that this technology could have immense benefits for humanity, and is pursued by ruthless anti-technology mercenaries.
The film is being developed by Radar Pictures in association with Emerson, Lake & Palmer and the band’s management. Michael Napoliello and Maria Frisk will co-produce with Radar’s Ted Field. ELP founding members Carl Palmer, Bruce Pilate, and Stewart Young will serve as executive producers.
“This is quite literally a cinematic miracle, and exactly the kind of film I’ve always dreamed of directing. It’s a novel, but also a very epic piece of science fiction that deals with a relevant subject matter through an entirely new lens,” Ezban said in a statement. “This is, in fact, a story in which AI may be our greatest ally, and the bad guy is… well, I won’t say any more… Hedrick’s epic script feels very human, unique, fresh, unpredictable, gripping, and at the same time deeply moving and beautiful…Bringing this story to life with the incredibly talented team at Radar Pictures is truly a dream come true.”
“I’ve been obsessed with this music ever since I found the iconic HR Giger album cover tucked away in my cool older cousin’s record collection,” Hedrick added in a statement. “Khan Evil 9 predates The Matrix and The Terminator, but it anticipates both those films and today’s technological disruption. I can’t wait to explore this world.”
Listen to Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s song “Karn Evil 9” below.
