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I Give It: 
(script, first draft)
Release Date: Unknown
The Pitch: This is an adaptation of the novel by Philip K. Dick (Bladerunner). It's about an undercover narc cop whose constant lying and own drug use start blurring his realities. He develops a split-personality (cop vs. addict) and, as a cop, begins surveilling his drug-dealer identity. But of course.
The Buzz: Not a lot. You hear a bit about the film occasionally, but it's basically in development hell. The project has changed hands several times, and various directors have put their hands up, but nothing is definite and there's only a slim chance Charlie's script will be used.
Cast: Unknown
Crew: Section 8 (George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh's company) optioned the film for $200 000 a while ago, and Rick Linklater's name was once mentioned (the rumour was he'd direct it as an all-CG affair), but I'm not sure of the project's status these days. Previously, Jersey Films (Danny DeVito's company) were to produce the film for Universal, and Emma-Kate Croghan (Love & Other Catastrophes) was attached to direct.
Screenplay: Web exclusive, yo! Charlie Kaufman's unproduced adaptation of Scanner is available for download here. Many thanks to two anonymous sources - one who mailed me the screenplay, and another who PDFed it. The screenplay has not previously appeared online, or for sale, anywhere. NOTE: the last page is missing. But the final line of dialogue on the second-last page is the same as the book's final line, so you aren't missing anything - probably just "THE END" and "FADE OUT." The script is provided FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
Articles/Reviews: Rustmonkey On My Back - Movie Poop Shoot
Being Philip K Dick - Movie Poop Shoot
Richard Linklater to direct? - AICN
Kaufman and Philip K. Dick's A SCANNER DARKLY - AICN
I Say: It's a cool but hard-to-adapt novel, and Charlie's adaptation - while only a first draft - does the book as much justice as is likely to be done. There's only a small chance his script will be used, though, assuming the movie is ever made. Oh, the humanity! A lot of people seem set on turning it into an all-CG affair. Not sure how I feel about that.
Latest: 2/4/04 - I'm not going to post every bit of Scanner Darkly news that comes my way, since as we know Charlie's adaptation won't be used. But word is in that Richard Linklater WILL be helming the movie, and it's going to star Keanu Reeves. Hmm. Here's a little about it, as sent in by Brent.
9/10/03 - Today Josh Jabcuga (see previous update) stopped by in the email sense to let me know...
I have some new info (sorta), plus some images from A SCANNER DARKLY (sorta). You'll see. Here's a link.
Couldn't have put it better myself. Don't pass out with joy at the thought that Charlie's become re-attached to the project, because he hasn't. But evidently it's a possibility that is still not entirely out of the question. Assuming the thing ever gets made at all.
17/7/03 - Over at Movie Poop Shoot (director Kevin Smith's site) Josh Jabcuga has reviewed Charlie's unproduced adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel, and a mighty fine review it is. Particularly because BCK gets a plug in the first sentence. The other sentences are equally good. Thanks to Josh for sending in the link.
28/4/03 - BIG NEWS. Web exclusive, yo. No, Charlie hasn't become re-attached to the project. But! You can now download Charlie's unproduced script, thanks to two anonymous sources: one who mailed the script to me, and another who PDFed it. They'll be receiving some of my internal organs shortly. The screenplay has not appeared previously online or for sale, anywhere. The script is provided FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
14/4/02 - In an interview with Reel.com to promote Human Nature, Charlie says "I wrote a script that was based on a Philip K. Dick book, Scanner Darkly, which I don't think is getting made. At least if it is getting made, it's not with my script. I heard that someone's doing it now."
14/3/02 - Okay, it's official. Charlie's draft of the script is out. As in gone. As in he's no longer attached to the movie. According to AICN, Charlie's work has been ditched. Instead, Rick (Waking Life) Linklater has been offered the job of writing and directing the movie. Word is it may be an all-CG affair, oh joy. Depending on later news, I probably won't be updating this page too frequently if Charlie doesn't get the gig. Charlie is supposedly one of the hottest writers in Hollywood right now, yet his work keeps getting screwed - first by Spike "Pace? Lighting? What?" Jonze, then by Clooney (he re-wrote the ending of Confessions), and now this. Why get excited about working with Charlie if you're just going to completely change or scrap his stuff anyway? Pffft. Attention Charlie: start directing your own movies.
18/2/02 - Screenwriter's Utopia says that Section 8, the production company owned by Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney, has optioned Dick's novel for two hundred thousand dollars. The article implies that Charlie isn't quite as attached to this project as I'd thought. They say Kaufman wrote a draft of the script, which I take to mean that Kaufman's draft isn't necessarily the one they'll go with. Click here for more info.
- Not really the latest, just a brief snippet from IGN.com:
Charlie Kaufman brought us inside John Malkovich, then he created (and killed) his own fake brother Donald and made him the subject of his adaptation of The Orchid Thief. Now Charlie is going into the most twisted territory of them all: a Phillip K. Dick story.
You may only know PKD's work from the films Hollywood has twisted out: Bladerunner (which had the tone, if not the story, of the novel) and Total Recall (which was an Arnie movie, through and through). Now Ain't It Cool News has a rumor that Charlie is tackling A Scanner Darkly for Universal, with director Emma-Kate Croghan (Love and Other Catastrophes) attached. Scanner is about an undercover narc cop whose constant lying and drug use starts blurring his realities. Both Charlie Kaufman and Phillip K. Dick are experts at differing realities, so expect the best. But kids, don't try this at home. (Source)
