# Will 'A Confederacy of Dunces' ever be turned into a full-length film? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491 "2013-04-01T03:02:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/1 "2013-04-01T03:02:00Z")
Like many, I read the book and laughed more than I have any other book with the possible exception of Mark Twain. Now I don’t think it can be adequately captured by any actor or director. It looks like it won’t be made. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/2 "2013-04-01T03:05:17Z")
I’ve heard that they’ve tried several times and the project is, for lack of a better word, cursed. In that it completely falls apart every time it’s tried. ---
**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/3 "2013-04-01T03:11:20Z")
Zach Galifianakis is the latest of 10 actors (nine serious) attached to the role. [http://splitsider.com/2013/03/8-actors-who-came-close-to-starring-in-a-confederacy-of-dunces/](http://splitsider.com/2013/03/8-actors-who-came-close-to-starring-in-a-confederacy-of-dunces/) ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/4 "2013-04-01T04:07:44Z")
Any creative team would lack proper geometry and theology. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/5 "2013-04-01T06:44:49Z")
Somehow I picture the Comic Book Guy in the role – so I guess it will have to be animated. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/6 "2013-04-01T10:14:13Z")
> [@Linden\_Arden](#): > > Zach Galifianakis is the latest of 10 actors (nine serious) attached to the role. > > [http://splitsider.com/2013/03/8-actors-who-came-close-to-starring-in-a-confederacy-of-dunces/](http://splitsider.com/2013/03/8-actors-who-came-close-to-starring-in-a-confederacy-of-dunces/) I had feeling that Jack Black would be in that list - please god, no. It’s a pity that it wasn’t made in the 90s with the actor who plays ‘Newman’ in Seinfeld. A similarly pretentious and misanthropic character to my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/7 "2013-04-01T11:35:59Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > I had feeling that Jack Black would be in that list - please god, no. > > It’s a pity that it wasn’t made in the 90s with the actor who plays ‘Newman’ in Seinfeld. A similarly pretentious and misanthropic character to my mind. I think the only person who could pull off the role convincingly is Philip Seymour Hoffman, but I fear he may be getting too old to do it now. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/8 "2013-04-01T15:50:33Z")
Belushi would have been superb. Galifianakis is better than many of the suggestions (I remember almost choking when I read that Drew Barrymore [another choke] had suggested Will Ferrell), but of known talent I think I might go with SNL’s Bobby Moynihan, though he lacks the clout to headline a movie at the moment. Half of my dream cast has died or gotten too ancient in the years since the movie was discussed. I used to like Marion Ross for Mrs. Reilly and Lily Tomlin for her pal Santa Battaglia, but now they could only be Miss Trixie. I still think Kelsey Grammer and Christine Baranski would be perfect as Mr. & Mrs. Levy. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/9 "2013-04-01T16:04:28Z")
Just a slight hijack, I just spent last week in NOLA and at a small bookstore in Pirate’s Alley (Faulkner House Books, located in a house where Faulkner lived and wrote), they had two copies of the 1st printing of Dunces, each available for around $3,000. I don’t have that kind of money to spend on my book collection at the moment, but it sure was a treat to get to hold and flip through that book - even for just a moment. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/10 "2013-04-01T16:05:35Z")
> [@Eutychus](#): > > I think the only person who could pull off the role convincingly is Philip Seymour Hoffman, but I fear he may be getting too old to do it now. I agree. IMHO the mistake they keep making is trying to put comic actors into the role. Ignatius is funny precisely because he’s deadly serious in everything he does. Better to put a “serious” actor (and yes, I know Hoffman can do comedy) in the role and let the comedy happen around him than someone who will ham it up and ruin the whole thing. So who’s a “young PSH” these days? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/11 "2013-04-01T16:25:48Z")
I actually think Zach Galifianakis would be a great choice. He kind of has an Ignatius thing going on in his comedy already (dry and condescending). I can’t think of anybody that would be a better choice at the moment, honestly. Who do we like for Burma Jones? How old is he supposed to be, I don’t think they ever say? Someone like Michael K. Williams would be a good fit there, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/12 "2013-04-01T16:37:38Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > I had feeling that Jack Black would be in that list - please god, no. If he doesn’t play “Jack Black,” he could be great in the role. But I concur with the P.S. Hoffman backers. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/13 "2013-04-01T16:37:22Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I actually think Zach Galifianakis would be a great choice. He kind of has an Ignatius thing going on in his comedy already (dry and condescending). I can’t think of anybody that would be a better choice at the moment, honestly. > > \*\*Who do we like for Burma Jones? \*\*How old is he supposed to be, I don’t think they ever say? Someone like Michael K. Williams would be a good fit there, I think. The casting for that role was admittedly NAILED in the 2005 Soderbergh production – Mos Def. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/14 "2013-04-01T17:29:47Z")
To directly answer the OP, yes, it will get made. There’s too much fan interest for it to stay unmade. That said, it’s not easy as it’s more of a niche favorite rather than a more general interest project. You just the right people around it who will fight for the film against the bean counters and naysayers in the studios. Don’t hold your breath, but it will be made at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/15 "2013-04-01T20:31:27Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I agree. > > IMHO the mistake they keep making is trying to put comic actors into the role. Ignatius is funny precisely because he’s deadly serious in everything he does. Better to put a “serious” actor (and yes, I know Hoffman can do comedy) in the role and let the comedy happen around him than someone who will ham it up and ruin the whole thing. > > So who’s a “young PSH” these days? Strike me dead for saying it - I’m on record in this very SDMB for loathing him - but how about Jonah Hill? He does deadpan condescending, he’s got a freaking Oscar nomination. He’s probably within the right age, although he reads young. He’s got industry cred to start moving into more lead roles. (Frankly, though, I always pictured a larger person.) ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/16 "2013-04-01T23:53:08Z")
I think a young [Maury Chaykin](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001999/?ref_=tt_cl_t9) or John Goodman would have had a shot at Ignatius. Even Galifinakis is pushing it age-wise. When reading the book I had a hard time seeing it as a movie without it landing with a thud though, at least if it was 100% loyal to the book (which these things never are). ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/17 "2013-04-02T01:36:09Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > The casting for that role was admittedly NAILED in the 2005 Soderbergh production – Mos Def. Mos Def was born to play Jones. A few years back it could have been Joe Morton. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/18 "2013-04-02T02:26:13Z")
Penn Jillette always reminded me of Ignatius. Too old now, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-confederacy-of-dunces-ever-be-turned-into-a-full-length-film/654491/19 "2013-04-02T02:31:29Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > It’s a pity that it wasn’t made in the 90s with the actor who plays ‘Newman’ in Seinfeld. A similarly pretentious and misanthropic character to my mind. I agree. He would have been awesome. Unfortunately he’s too old now. Jonah Hill would probably be a good choice. I just want them to make the movie so I can go to the theatre and shout, “Who’s responsible for this abortion?”