13 Nerd Wishlist Items For Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" On HBO

Before George Lucas's birth came this epic of a dying Galactic Empire and one man's plan to save it.

Many of us hardcore, old-school sci-fi geeks have been dreaming about this screen adaptation their whole lives. Here, then, some casting and concept recos. Jonathan Nolan, listen up!

1. A Trantor (Imperial homeworld, for you Foundation virgins) to die for

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My planet-sized city is bigger than your planet-sized city. Suck it, Coruscant!

2. Malcolm McDowell as Hari Seldon

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Future history's Empire-saving, blue-eyed psychic mathematician.

3. Dakota Fanning as Arkady Darrell

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She hunts down the super-secret Second Foundation -- all while rocking a fabulous pair of shorts amid the ruins of a fallen Empire. Get it, Arkady!

4. Michael Emerson as the Mule...

Future history's ultimate bad guy, with everything from mind control to a bad childhood: "I grew up haphazard; wounded and tortured in mind, full of self-pity and hatred of others."

... though Adrien Brody works, too

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He'll need significant de-sexy-fying.

5. Laurence Fishburne as Salvor Hardin

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I'll make those bumpkin star systems think my force fields are magic.

6. None of those hokey, over-the-top jumps to hyperspace

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I mean, it's basic future physics: wink out in one place, wink back a few light-years away. And please no scientifically-inaccurate streaky stars; this is science fiction for grownups.

7. Major Imperial melodrama

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Inspired by Romans Flavius and Justinian, we have got to see General Bel Riose duking it out with Emperor Cleon II in the Imperial throne room while the whole galaxy falls apart.

8. An epic Sack of Trantor

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Great world. Great demise.

9. Telepathy that isn't cheesy

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And no "WA-WA-WA-WA" sounds either, please. Grownups, remember?

10. Killer outfits for the Second Foundation

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Okay, maybe not these (though Sigourney pulled it off).

11. James Van Der Beek as Golan Trevize

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Dawson -- all grown up -- would make a truly dashing Foundation naval officer.

12. A jaw-droppingly creepy Aurora After People

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Watch out for the wild dogs -- and robots who think the Three Laws were made to be broken.

13. Michael Fassbender as R. Daneel Olivaw

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Robot, sex symbol, and (spoiler alert) guardian of the galaxy all in one.

Now go read 'em (or re-read) so you're ready for the big premiere!