NEW YORK (Variety)－－Eight years after his death, prolific science－fiction author Isaac Asi

NEW YORK (Variety)--Eight years after his death, prolific science-fiction author Isaac Asimov has suddenly arrived as a hot Hollywood commodity, with screen deals for his novels and short stories landing all over town. A deal dosed late last week at Warner Bros to adapt the Asimov short story "The Ugly Little Boy" into a film. The picture will be produced by Denise DiNovi and Demi Moore as a starting vehicle for Moore. In other recent deals, Fox has optioned Asimov’s most popular novel series, "Foundation," for Shekhar Kaput ("Elizabeth") to direct; Paramount is working on turning "End of Eternity" into a film that Ridley Scott ("Gladiator") will likely direct from a script. by "Total Recall" co-writer Gary Goldman; and Sony Pictures Family Entertainment is developing into an animated film series "Norby, the Mixed Up Robot," a series of 10 children’s novels that Asimov wrote with his wife Janet, who’ll act as creative consultant. Most of the deals will be worth seven-figure paydays if the films get made. Asimov wrote more than 460 works in either book or short-story form. While he wrote some nonfiction and mysteries, his speciality was sci-fi, with futuristic stories that were alien-free and high on pro-humanistic themes. His work has influenced many prominent sci-fi filmmakers, but Asimov action had been sparse. The most recent adaptation was the Robin Williams picture "Bicentennial Man." Part of the reason was that Asimov’s sole passion was his books and his family. He was hardly pushy(进取心的) about getting his works adapted, known to grant film options for as little as $50. The catalyst for the surge in screen activity is that Asimov’s estate is now represented by Crested By, a partnership created 1- 1/2 years ago by Vince Gerardis and Ralph Vicinanza, who currently handle the screen rights of about 200 major sci-fi, fantasy and horror authors.

1.Paragraph 3 mainly talks about____.

A、the agreements between Asimov’s wife and the Hollywood producers

B、the films that will be shot on Asimov’s works

C、the producers that will shoot the films

D、the works flint will be adapted into films

2.Who encouraged the gush(涌出) in filmmaking？____

A、A partner author of Asimov.

B、A company started by.

C、A corporation set up by Wince Gerardis and Ralph Vicinanza.

D、A firm managed by wife.

3.What’s Asimov’s attitude to the adaptation of his works into films？____

A、He was ardent about the adaptation.