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Filming has now started for 5 weeks on the $5 million big screen adaptation of author Ayn Rand's 1957 novel "Atlas Shrugged".

Shooting in Los Angeles, "Atlas Shrugged Part One" is directed by Paul Johansson from a script by Patrick O'Toole, for producers John Aglialoro and Harmon Kaslow.

The book explores a dystopian United States where leading innovators, ranging from industrialists to artists, refuse to be exploited by society. Protagonist, 'Dagny Taggart', sees society collapse around her as the government increasingly asserts control over all industry, while society's most productive citizens, led by the mysterious 'John Galt', progressively drop out. Galt describes the strike as "stopping the motor of the world" by withdrawing the "minds" that drive society's growth and productivity; with their strike these creative minds hope to demonstrate that the economy and society would collapse without the profit motive and the efforts of the rational and productive.

The novel,...

Paul Johansson ("One Tree Hill"), Taylor Schilling ("Mercy") and Grant Bowler ("True Blood") have been cast as John Galt, Dagny Taggart and Hank Reardon respectively in the independently-produced film adaptation of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" reports Variety.

Producer John Aglialoro had to get production going on this film adaptation of one of literature's most famous works by this past Saturday or lose the feature rights. Well he met the date, with the $5 million-budget "Atlas Shrugged Part One" kicking off its five week shoot over the weekend with Paul Johansson directing from Brian Patrick O'Toole's script.

The project has dwelt in development hell for decades until this year when Aglialoro quickly decided to make the film on his own without any studio backing. As a result, the cast is essentially made up of mostly unknowns including those three above.

Joining them are Michael Lerner ("A Serious Man") as lobbyist...

Atlas Shrugged begins principal photography We reported last month that an adaptation of a 1957 novel was gearing up to start shooting despite no cast members announced and now it seems the film has started shooting and we also know who's starring in the film. Variety is reporting that Atlas Shrugged started shooting over the weekend. It was also said that if the film wasn't in production by Saturday, they would have lost the rights to the Ayn Rand adaptation.

Paul Johansson will be directing the film based on the adapted script by Brian Patrick O'Toole. Johansson will also act in the film as well, portraying John Galt, with Taylor Schilling starring in the lead role of Dagny Taggart and Grant Bowler portraying Henry Reardon.

The rest of the cast includes Michael Lerner as Wesley Mouch, director Nick Cassavetes in an on-screen role as Richard McNamara, Matthew Marsdan as James Taggart...

The feature adaptation of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" has started filming in Los Angeles. Shooting will last for around five weeks on the $5 million-budgeted independent film produced by John Aglialoro and Harmon Kaslow. "Atlas Shrugged Part One" is being directed by Paul Johansson from the screenplay by Brian Patrick O'Toole. "Atlas Shrugged" was first published in 1957 and tells of a dystopian version of the U.S. where society has collapsed as the government gains increasing control over industry. This decline takes place while the most productive citizens, led by John Galt, start vanishing. Paul Johansson of "One Tree Hill" plays Galt, Taylor Schilling will play the railroad executive Dagny Taggart, Grant Bowler ("Ugly Betty") has been cast as Henry Reardon, Michael Lerner ("A Serious Man") plays lobbyist Wesley Mouch and renowned helmer Nick Cassavetes is in as Richard McNamara. Other cast members include Matthew Marsdan as James Taggart and Graham Beckel as Ellis Wyatt.