Van Sant to Direct adaptation of classic Wolfe novel – The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
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It’s been almost 40 years since Tome Wolfe’s “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” was published and is now set to get a big screen makeover. Attached to direct is Gus Van Sant with Lance Black (Big Love) writing the script.
The movie will be produced by Richard Gladstein who is currently in the process of setting the project with a financier.
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test told the story of a cross-country road trip that author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey orchestrated with a group called the Merry Pranksters. Driving a psychedelically painted bus from California to the World Fair in New York in 1964, Kesey and his band used the trip to turn those they met along the way to the mind-expanding wonders of LSD.
Kesey took LSD while he wrote the famous “Cuckoo’s Nest” and credited the hallucinogen for many of the ideas in the book.
After the Wolfe book was published in 67, the film rights to the movie were snapped up by entrepreneur Alfred Roven. Alfred wasn’t a film producer and had many meetings over the years with filmmakers but was very protective over the rights. When he died, Roven left the rights to his children, Daryn and Alison. It was only then did FilmColony’s Gladstein get introduced to the children by attorney Peter Grossman and the rights were finally entrusted to a producer.
Van Sant was quick to sign onto the film who then enlisted Black, with whom he’s collaborating on a biopic slain San Francisco pol Harvey Milk.
Wolfe is unlikely to be a major part of the film, with focus being on Kesey and include events which occurred after the road trip.
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