Apparently there was some substance to those rumors about Angelina Jolie wanting to take aim at all notions of community and togetherness in a feature version of "Atlas Shrugged."

Written in 1957, "Atlas Shrugged" is considered Ayn Rand's masterpiece by people who believe that the Russian-born author had a masterpiece and by people who feel that the major qualification for "masterpiece" status is epic length. The film's 1,100 pages have proven daunting for many a producer, though Howard and Karen Baldwin ("Ray") determined back in April that they'd cracked the puzzle.

The "Atlas Shrugged" project is set up at Lionsgate.

The weighty tome focuses on railroad executive Dagny Taggart, who feels crushed by society's evil shift toward collectivism or something silly like that. In a world on the verge of economic collapse, everybody has to learn important lessons about selfishness and self-sufficiency. They also have to find out the answer to the question "Who is John Galt?"

According to Variety, Jolie will play Dagny. Actually, Variety says Jolie will play "Dagney," but since Variety practically willed Jolie's casting into being with unsourced speculation this spring, we'll give them the benefit of a couple copy gaffes. Back in April, Variety also attempted to cast Jolie's baby-daddy Brad Pitt in the film, but there's no mention of Pitt's involvement in the latest story.

Jolie has been a longtime fan of Rand's work, which suggests that the Oscar-winning UN Goodwill Ambassador has never read any of the "Fountainhead" author's virulent screeds against the United Nations.

Upcoming projects for Jolie include "The Good Shepherd" and "A Mighty Heart," along with turns in "Beowulf" and "Kung Fu Panda."