Fox 2000 and Scott Free have acquired film rights to Joe Haldeman's 1974 sci-fi novel "The Forever War" for Ridley Scott to direct says Variety.

The project would mark Scott's first science fiction film since back-to-back classics "Alien" and "Blade Runner" in 1979 & 1982. Scott intended to film the project back in the 80's but rights complications delayed his plans for more than two decades.

The story revolves around a soldier who battles an enemy in deep space for only a few months, only to return home to a planet he doesn't recognize some 20 years later.

A writer will shortly be hired to adapt the work. Scott next directs "Nottingham" and has the thriller "Child 44" and the biopic "Gucci" in development.