The development troubles for Lionsgate’s planned adaptation of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged continue with the reported departure of filmmaker Vadim Perelman.

According to Cinematical, Perelman (House of Sand and Fog) says the project will not be going forward with him in the director’s chair. Perelman had been tasked with writing and directing the flick, but it’s also unclear whether he completed a draft of the screenplay. A previous draft was penned by Randall Wallace (Braveheart), who managed to pair down Rand’s magnum opus of over 1,000 pages into a 127-page screenplay.

It’s been a rough road for the movie version of the classic novel which was shelved briefly before Perelman was brought onboard in September. No reasons for Perelman’s departure were given.

Angelina Jolie has long been attached to star in the flick as Dagny Taggart, the central female character in the story. Taggart’s journey is the journey of the reader, exploring and understanding hero John Galt’s capitalist philosophy. Jolie’s hubby, Brad Pitt, has been rumored for the role of Galt.
Source: IGN