A Confederacy of Dunces

[Gothampc]

Will it ever be made into a movie? Such a great novel, where's the movie?

[Kad]

It's been in and out of development hell for decades.

[Addison D.]

I'm very leery.

I just watched some of the recent 'Blandings' series from the UK. Good God--what a travesty. Terrible casting of wonderful actors in a sophomoric and arid adaptation of some of the funniest and most wittily sophisticated writing ever.

What is the right creative team to make 'Confederacy of Dunces' what it needs to be?

Oooh--I know: Meryl Streep as Myrna Minkoff. And Maggie Smith as Irene!

[sabrelady]

^^^That would mean Jack Black as Ignatius. meh.

I'd rather David Anthony Higgins from Mike and Molly

[Gothampc]

I was hoping at the height of Roseanne fame that they would have pulled it together to get John Goodman. I think he would have struck the right balance needed for the character. Alas, it wasn't meant to be and we'll end up in the future with a hastily put together paste job where everyone will say "See isn't it brilliant" and it will look nothing like the source material.

[JoeKv99]

John Waters once said this is the only move he didn't write that he'd want to direct. Of course his enthusiasm cooled when producers told him Eddie Murphy would have to play Burma Jones.

[Addison D.]

from Wikipedia:

"Film adaptations[edit]
There have been repeated attempts to turn the book into a film. In 1982, Harold Ramis was to write and direct an adaptation, starring John Belushi and Richard Pryor, but Belushi's death prevented this. Later, John Candy and Chris Farley were touted for the lead, both of whom died at an early age, leading many to ascribe a curse to the role.[11]

Director John Waters was interested in directing an adaptation starring Divine as Ignatius when Divine was alive.[12]

British performer and writer Stephen Fry was at one point commissioned to adapt Toole's book for the screen.[13] He was sent to New Orleans by Paramount Studios in 1997 to get background for a screenplay adaptation.[14]

John Goodman, a longtime resident of New Orleans, was slated to play Ignatius at one point.

A version adapted by Steven Soderbergh and Scott Kramer, and slated to be directed by David Gordon Green, was scheduled for release in 2005. The film was to star Will Ferrell as Ignatius and Lily Tomlin as Ignatius's mother. A staged reading of the script took place at the 8th Nantucket Film Festival, with Ferrell as Ignatius, Anne Meara as his mother, Paul Rudd as Officer Mancuso, Kristen Johnston as Lana Lee, Mos Def as Burma Jones, Rosie Perez as Darlene, Olympia Dukakis as Santa Battaglia and Miss Trixie, Natasha Lyonne as Myrna, Alan Cumming as Dorian Greene, John Shea as Gonzales, Jesse Eisenberg as George, John Conlon as Claude Robichaux, Jace Alexander as Bartender Ben, Celia Weston as Miss Annie, Miss Inez & Mrs. Levy, and Dan Hedaya as Mr. Levy.[15]

Various reasons are cited as to why the movie has yet to be filmed. They include disorganization and lack of interest at Paramount Pictures, the head of the Louisiana State Film Commission being murdered, and the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans.[11] When asked why the film was never made, Will Ferrell has said it is a "mystery".[16] A 2007 Cracked.com article titled "The 10 Most Awesome Movies Hollywood Ever Killed"[17] had the version starring Ferrell at #1, and paraphrased him saying that "it's the movie everyone in Hollywood wants to make, but no one wants to finance".

There is currently a version in negotiation with director James Bobin and potentially starring Zach Galifianakis.[18]

In an interview, Steven Soderbergh remarked "I think it’s cursed. I’m not prone to superstition, but that project has got bad mojo on it."[19]

[tazber]

They should definitely get an unknown for Ignatius.

He is one of the most indelible characters in 20th century literature.

[JoeKv99]

Agree on both points Taz. Plus, most of these actors are just too old. Ignatius is supposed to be in his late twenties- still pining for his college t"triumphs" and living with Mom.

[Playbilly]

No, every great novel does NOT need to be made into a movie.