Here’s a terrific story that surprisingly hasn’t been told on the big screen just yet, but not for lack of trying. A few years back, Brett Ratner was circling around directing an adaptation of the acclaimed book "I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story Of The Music Video Revolution," which as the title implies, tells the wild story about how the music video channel was born and influenced an entire generation. That iteration didn’t come to pass, but another filmmaker well suited to the task has stepped in.
A24 has acquired film rights to the book by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks and has tapped James Ponsoldt ("The End Of The Tour," "The Spectacular Now") to write, produce and direct the movie. The film will chronicle the founding and first 10 years of the network, a golden era for both music and television in which MTV became the emblem of a new generation. What started as a channel showcasing videos from obscure British bands soon transformed into a cultural sensation that tapped directly into the imagination and spirit of contemporary teenagers.
Ponsoldt has show a great knack for tapping into generational moments and for telling those stories with depth and emotion. This is one we’re going to be keeping an eye on.