Confederacy of Dunces is going to be a movie.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

IMDB (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0340054) says that the funniest novel ever written, A Confederacy of Dunces is going to made into a movie. Steven Soderbergh and Drew Barrymore are producing. Soderbergh cowrote the screenplay. Barrymore has reportedly been cast in the movie, but no word yet on who she'll be playing. Philip Seymore Hoffman is rumored to be playing Ignatius.

So what do you think? Can a movie possibly be as rich, intelligent, and funny as the book? Is Hoffman a good choice for Ignatius? Who would you like to see in some of the other roles?

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Pinch me, I'm dreaming. I love that book, and am confident that its verbal and visual humor will work just find in a movie.

I don't know Philip Hoffman. I'd sort of been rooting for the actor who played Newman on Seinfeld, though he's probably too short and looks anything but Irish-American. Not that ethnicity should matter, but I do like accuracy in these things.

[Mr. Wrong]

Offhand, I can't think of a better choice for Ignatius. I'm always skeptical about anybody's ability to make a good movie out of a book I love, but the fact that Soderbergh is involved gives me hope.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I think that Hoffman has the ability to project the combination of intelligence and pathos that would be necessary for the part. I think Wayne knight (Newman) is funny, but he would be too broad (no pun intended) for the role.

[Mr. Wrong]

Hoffman is also short, but unless you're really anal, it won't matter. The mother may be tougher to cast.

[fizgig]

Pleeeeaaaase keep Barrymore behind the scenes! Who would she play, Myrna Minkoff? She would probably be OK as Darlene, but that's it. This book was brought up at Thanksgiving dinner, and quoting and hilarity ensued. We did talk about a movie, but didn't nail down specific casting.

I've never seen PSH do an unkempt character, and I'm not sure I can picture the gluttish, slobbish pig part of IJR.

I can see the possibility of the book being portrayed accurately on film, but it seems like a matter of fitting all that detail into two hours without leaving gaping holes or glossing over. The beauty of the novel is in the idiosyncratic details.

[don't ask]

You want unkempt then go for Jack Black. Check him out in Dead Man Walking for some straight acting.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Originqlly posted by fizgig

I've never seen PSH do an unkempt character, and I'm not sure I can picture the gluttish, slobbish pig part of IJR.

Have you seen him in Boogie Nights or Happiness?


don't ask, I like Jack Black, but I think he might be a little too "hip" for Ignatius.

[jehovah68]

Ah! My valve is beginning to open up again.:D

[aramis]

I hadn't thought of him before javaman brought himup but I think Wayne Knight would be a terrific Ignatius. He's done a lot of comedy but has some done good drama roles (Basic Instinct) too. PSH is good but he'd need to gain a lot of weight, and personally I think he's a little young for the role. And Jack Black has never impressed me at all.

[jehovah68]

Perhaps Vincent d'Onofrio as IJR? Steve Buscemi would make a perfect Patrolman Mancuso. How about Janeane Garafolo as Myrna? Giancarlo Esposito or Don Cheadle as the barback character (sorry, his name escapes me). Seymour Cassell as Mr. Levy, Angie Dickinson as Mrs L. Maybe Brenda Blythen as Mrs. Reilly?

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

A lot of people here seem to be emphasizing the straight-dramatic character of the novel, and of IJR, but I see him as mainly a comic figure. Beyond whatever dramatic experience is usual for a competent comic actor, I wouldn't think any more should be needed. (But I know little of these things, I admit.)

The Newman character always reminded me very much of IJR. He always seemed a little more eloquent and imaginative than the other Seinfeld characters. He seemed the sort of person who went to college and did well, but could never settle into the usual college-graduate type of job, and became a mailman. Not, of course, exactly the same as IJR, but in some ways parallel. Some of Newman's on-the-job antics are reminiscent of the hilarious Levy Pants episode.

[fizgig]

The thing with IJR is that he takes himself very seriously, though to an onlooker he's a comic figure. I just can't quite picture Newman carrying off the bombastic attitude. I guess I'm also prejudiced because he looks nothing like the IJR I pictured while reading the book. The guy from Flatliners someone mentioned in another thread is much closer to who I have pictured, YMMV.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

The guy from Flatliners someone mentioned in another thread is much closer to who I have pictured, YMMV.

Oliver Platt is the guy you're thinking of. He's a good actor, good comic timing, I could see it.

I think d'Onofrio would do ok too, but personally I'm still in love with the PSH idea.

Jehova The black floor sweeper character is named Jones. He is absolutely crucial as far as I am concerned. Jones is really the only sane character in the book, and he has some of the funniest lines. I can see Cheadle. I used to picture Richard Pryor years ago but that's impossible now. I would suggest Delroy Lindo, Samuel L. Jackson, or possibly Jamie Foxx. I hope they don't get too carried away and cast somebody like Chris Rock or Chris Tucker just to be loud and bombastic.

What about the gay guy, Dorian Green? Scott Thompson? Nathan Lane?

Oh, and how about Carol Burnett as Miss Trixie?

[jehovah68]

Jones, yes. Thank you Diogenes.
As far as Dorian, however, isn't he a much younger person (late teens, early 20's) than Thompson or Lane could even hope to play? Perhaps a breakthrough role for an unknown.
BTW Ruth Gordon (RIP) would have been perfect for Miss Trixie, no?

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Ruth Gordon, yeah, she would have been great. :)

You're probably right about Thompson and Lane in regards to Dorian Green. It would be a juicy part, though, whoever was to get it.

[Stratocaster]

For some reason, I had always hoped they'd cast an unknown if they ever made a movie. At least in part, I guess it's because Ignatius is such a unique character, and I didn't want anything to detract from the believability of the experience ("Oh, look. There's Johnny Depp buried inside of 85 pounds of 'fake fat' latex prosthestics").

I can't think of anyone who would be perfect for the role. IMO.

[Alias]

I guess I can sort of see Wayne Knight in the part, but isn't he too old? IJR is supposed to be 30 or so, isn't he?

[WordMan]

Philip Seymour Hoffman would be perfect for the role if they are going for a complexly layered version of the story - he is one of the best actors working today, and since IJR is sort of the equivalent of a great character role focused on as the lead role, PSH is perfect, given his roles in PT Andersen, David Mamet and other movies. Even his role as the dude tornado chaser in Twister ("Oh they'll rue the day - maximue rue-age will occur!") shows that he can play broad comedy, but his other roles in Happiness and Boogie Nights show he can do pathos, too....

I love this book - I have a first edition of this book; NOT easy to come by...I can hardly wait and hope this movie gives the book that much more exposure so people see it for what it is - truly a classic American novel

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Originally posted by fizgig
The thing with IJR is that he takes himself very seriously, though to an onlooker he's a comic figure. I just can't quite picture Newman carrying off the bombastic attitude.

Well, Newman probably couldn't, but I think Wayne Knight could, if he weren't physically wrong for the part. It would be interesting to know if he was approached for the role. The Newman character isn't quite so asocial and negative as IJR is.

One of my favorite IJR quotes was where he says while the cycle of Fortune spins ever downward, he finds himself at the moment in a temporary up cycle....but smaller downward cycles within the up cycle are possi ble.

[Tangent]

[b]Oliver Platt[/p], definitely. PSH is good, but Platt is great at playing abrasive characters and he is a lot closer to how I imagined IJR looking.

[RadioactiveGayBabyWhale]

I think Wayne Knight would definitely do a decent job. I don't think I'd like to see Philip Seymour Hoffman, I don't like the cut of that fellow's jib for some reason.

Has anyone been cast besides Drew Barrymore? I gather not. I don't know how the plot of the book justifies her getting a "starring" role, but maybe I'll be able to deal with it (http://www.joblo.com/movienews/1100.htm). Holy Toledo! :D

[Walloon]

Ages:

Wayne Knight: 48
Oliver Platt: 43
Vincent D'Onofrio: 43
Philip Seymour Hoffman: 35
Jack Black: 33
Ignatius J. Reilly: 30

[Walloon]

Anybody here see Office Space (1999)? Stephen Root, who played the beyond-nerdy Milton Waddams, would be good as Ignatius, although I don't know how he would do with long passages of declamatory dialogue, as he mostly mumbles in Office Space.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Stephen Root was also Jimmy James on Newsradio.

[betenoir]

I can't say I've thought about it much before, but, now that I've read the OP I realize Phillip Seymour Hoffman is the only person in the world to play IJR. That is so fucking perfect.

Well I could almost see Jack Black. But PSH is the better actor.

I don't see Wayne Knight at all.

[Jello]

Apparently Will Ferrell got the role. Interview from this week's Onion AV Club:

O: Are you doing A Confederacy Of Dunces?

WF: Yeah. It's now kind of gone back into a bit of a holding pattern. When the money is there, it's definitely something that the producer and director want me to do. I would be thrilled if it finally gets together, but it's been fraught with peril for a long time.

O: Would you gain weight for the part, or have you thought that far ahead?

WF: I have. Whatever the health issues would be, there's a part of me that would love to do the De Niro Raging Bull thing. But I hear that actually wrecked his metabolism, and he's had to battle that ever since he did that.

O: And you're a marathon runner.

WF: Yeah, I've been doing that. So I don't know. I'm hoping that prosthetics will be good enough.

[Sampiro]

Drew Barrymore is playing the stripper, Darlene.

I like Cher for Miss Lana, Charlotte Rae for Ms. Trixie, Kelsey Grammer for Levy, Christine Baransky for Mrs. Levy, Lily Tomlin as Santa Bataglia, Joe Pesci as Mancuso, and love either Brenda Blethyn or Carol Burnett for Mrs. Reilly.

[GraceTX]

The IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340054/combined) confirms that Will Ferrell will play Ignatius.

Drew Barrymore .... Darlene
Mos Def (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0080049/) .... Jones
Olympia Dukakis .... Santa Battaglia
Will Ferrell .... Ignatius J. Reilly
Lily Tomlin .... Mrs. Reilly

[RealityChuck]

Originally posted by Grace
The IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340054/combined) confirms that Will Ferrell will play Ignatius. Ugh.

I guess we should be thankful they didn't cast Adam Sandler, but still. :eek:

[vl_mungo]

Will Farrell!?!?!?!??? Damn, that's just not right. Well, another good project shat on.

For the record, my first thought when I saw the OP was Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I think I could have been pretty happy with Stephen Root, Vincent d'Onofrio or even Jack Black. Will Farrell... fuck no!

[Jello]

On the bright side, Mos Def looks like he'll be good as Jones. I've liked his acting from what little I've seen of him (Monster's Ball, The Italian Job).

[look!ninjas]

Will Ferrell? Damn. Just damn.

I mean, were they thinking? Did they think about it at all? Damn!

[Sampiro]

Will Farrell?

God in heaven forgive "the degenerates who produced this abortion".

On second thought, don't.

[righteously indignant rant]IGNATIUS IS SUPPOSED TO BE 300 POUNDS! HE'S ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE A GENIUS (TRUE, HE'S A PATHOLOGICALLY LAZY AND DERANGED ONE, BUT A GENIUS NONETHELESS)!!! WILL FARRELL WOULDN'T SEEM SMART IF HE WAS SURROUNDED BY CHICKENS AND HE'S GONNA MUG AT THE CAMERA AND GIVE HIS SAME DUMBASS FARTJOKE QUALITY PERFORMANCE THAT HE GIVES IN EVERYTHING ELSE!!! WHAT THE F*CK? WHAT THE F*CK WHAT THE F*CK? AAAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!! WHAT NEXT- THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN II STARRING DREW BARRYMORE AND FANNIE FLAGG?[/righteously indignant rant]

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I like Will Farrell in some things but I just can't see him as Ignatius. I hope the casting of Farrell is not a signal that they intend to produce a dumbed-down, slapstick version of the story which trades in all the cerebral qualities of the novel for a bunch of fat and fart jokes.

Damn. I really wanted it to be PSH.

[dropzone]

Fannie Flagg is actually not a bad actress, IIRC. Maybe not good enough to convince us she's black, but even Olivier didn't manage that.

[ElvisL1ves]

Didn't even pick the right SNL hack. Horatio Sanz would be decent. Will Ferrell? I'll stay home and reread the book.

[voguevixen]

Of all the wonderful actors clamoring for this role, why Farrell? It's as if they're targeting people who never read the book, or indeed any book at all, ever.

[lissener]

Hmm. I always saw Oliver Platt in that role. But Soderbergh is an excellent choice for director.

If Will Ferrell does it, I will hunt him down and kill him.

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

To all the WF bashers, take heart. This movie may never be made. This book has been the project of the damned in Hollywood. You know who was first suggested for the role? John Belushi. John Candy was later proposed for the role. Chris Farley was tapped to play IJR as well. Perhaps Farell should see his doctor soon. There have been numerous scripts written, including one by Stephen Fry. All have come to naught. The book is simply too long and textured to be properly put into movie form.

[well he's back]

I can usually bear movies I love being made into movies (I finally broke down and saw FOTR and Two Towers, after all) - but the supposed cast list for this just looks to a raping, a travesty of Confederacy of Dunces - the book I foist on people as the funniest book ever.

I could have borne Stephen Root as Ignatius, Philip Hoffman, even Jack Black... but will ferrell??? and those others???

In my dreams maybe a very young John Candy. And a very young Richard Pryor as Jones...oh well...

[Doomtrain]

Stephen Fry wrote a script for Confederacy of Dunces? That's great! I'd love to read it.

And Will Farrell? Jesus, what a horrible decision.