According to Empire Online, Tim Robbins is getting ready to take on the government in another way – a stage production of the classic George Orwell novel 1984. But the stage play, which debuts in February, isn’t the only venue Robbins wants to explore. He not only has an adaptation of the novel for the stage (written by Michael Gene Sullivan), but also for the screen.

Although there has already been one screen adaptation of the novel (directed by Michael Radford in the year 1984) I personally would be interested in seeing another version, particularly one with Robbins involved. It would be interesting to see how the novel was adapted to a world that contains many things Orwell didn’t imagine, as well as some things he did. “When we think about the authoritarian world that Orwell painted,” Robbins says, “the catchphrases are one thing, but when you read the book again, the specifics and relevance for now are stunning.” Having recently read the novel again, I have to agree, although I’m fairly certain you could find relevant material from the novel in just about any society.

I’m not a fan of Robbins’s political grandstanding, but I’d still be in favor of a project like this. When an artist can combine their political messages into their art (instead of holding awards shows hostage), the result can often be incredible. Hopefully Robbins would acknowledge that he’s a little too old to play the lead and would direct the film like he has the stage production, allowing someone more appropriate to play Winston.