Quo Vadimus


Wednesday, August 27, 2003

 

I Like These Films, Do You Like These Films? #005-006:
George Washington (David Gordon Green, 2000) and All The Real Girls (David Gordon Green, 2003).



Green's upcoming Dunces adaptation: Phil or Will?

Among the high profile events at the 2003 Nantucket Film Festival was the highly anticipated reading of "Confederacy of Dunces." The project which will be directed by David Gordon Green, from a script by Steven Soderbergh and Scott Kramer, was read before a sold-out crowd of 800 in a local school auditorium. The star-studded performance included performers Will Ferrell as lead Ignatius J. Reilly, Anne Meara as his mother Mrs. Reilly, and Paul Rudd as Mancuso. Other performers included Jace Alexander, John Conlon, Alan Cumming, Olympiz Dukakis, Jesse Eisenberg, Dan Hedaya, Kristen Johnston, Natasha Lyonne, Mos Def, Rosie Perez, John Shea, Celia Weston and Garret Savage. Green told indieWIRE that Lily Tomlin is already on board for the filmed version as Irene Reilly, Drew Barrymore will star as Darlene, Dukakis will play Santa Battaglia, and Mos Def is set as Burma Jones. "I don't think I could make it without him," Green told indieWIRE.

As for the lead role, no actor has been set yet even though rumors persisted throughout the weekend that Phillip Seymour Hoffman will play Ignatius. Ferrell's turn as the character struck a continually humorous chord with the audience. Staging included Reilly seated in the audience at the start of the reading, lashing out loudly as Savage, the reading's narrator, introduced Miramax, the producers, and the cast. Wearing Reilly's trademark green hat, Ferrell made his way from the back of the auditorium, all the while catcalling cast as they were introduced. "I was startled and amazed at Ferrell's dig on Ignatius," Green told indieWIRE by email earlier this week, reflecting on the event. "I had no idea that a character that sad could make me piss my pants with laughter."

"George Washington" and "All the Real Girls" director Green, who is back in Georgia editing his latest film, "Undertow," told indieWIRE that "Dunces" will either shoot this fall or next spring in New Orleans. - indieWIRE, 6/26/03


posted by Linus | 9:43 PM

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