Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Richard Linklater Leaves "Limpet" Remake Behind

Richard Linklater has vacated the job of directing the long-gestating remake of fantasy adventure "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" says THR,


Linklater's "Boyhood" is getting strong critical reviews, and he wants to leverage that good will to make his "Dazed and Confused"-esque 1980s university-set project "That's What I'm Talking About".

The story follows a group of freshmen as they navigate through the first year of college life, while trying to make the baseball team. He hopes to shoot the film as early as this Fall.

Limpet is based on the novel by author Theodore Pratt--Zach Galifianakis stars as a bearded beach bum trying to save the fish population. When he's turned into a fish, he sets out on an adventure to save his town and the sea world.

Casting the supporting players was well  underway--Jon Hamm would play the villain, a businessman who mines the ocean floor. Danny McBride and Sarah Silverman are in talks for live-action roles--Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele are expected to voice sea creatures in the movie. No word yet if they will all stay in place.

Don Knotts starred in the studio's 1964 original, which centered on the title character, an otherwise bland man who transforms into a talking fish. He soon becomes a World War II hero when he helps spot and thwart enemy warships for the Allies. It was was a live action-animated hybrid (ala "Mary Poppins" and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks")--this new version will likely use CG animation and live-action.

Robin Williams and Jim Carrey have been previously attached to star in the project. 

Femke Wolting and Tommy Pallotta ("Last Hijack") had already begun working on design and animation for the project. Pallotta previously worked with Linklater on both "Waking Life" and "A Scanner Darkly".

Kevin Lima ("Enchanted") was hired back in mid-2009 to direct but left
Linklater had been attached to the remake of 'Limpet' since 2011--the studio has reportedly already been talking to other directors to replace Linklater.

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