Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s Karn Evil 9 set to become sci-fi movie

Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Image credit: Michael Ochs Archives - Getty)

Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s epic Brain Salad Surgery track Karn Evil 9 is set to become a sci-fi movie.

Deadline report that Radar Pictures, the company behind the hit Jumanji films, has managed to secure the rights to transform the 1973 song into a feature film, based around the title and lyrics.

Carl Palmer also confirmed the news on his Twitter feed over the weekend.

Author Daniel H. Wilson has been tapped to create the screenplay, Michael Napoliello and Maria Frisk will produce the film, while Ted Field will be executive producer.

Speaking about the film, which will “explore the world controlled by a pervasive and dictatorial technocracy,” Field tells the website: “The visionary world that ELP created with their recording Karn Evil 9 is much closer to reality today.

“Our team at Radar looks forward to bringing this vision of where things may be headed to the big screen and beyond.”

Wilson adds: “I’m incredibly excited to partner with Ted and Radar to explore Karn Evil 9 – a unique and thrilling world.

“I couldn’t ask for better collaborators and I can’t wait to help add the Karn Evil 9 franchise to the Radar family.”

Further details will be revealed in due course.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.