Just weeks afterPeter Fondahinted his old friendJack Nicholsonwas retiring, the Hollywood legend has shot that rumor down.Jack Nicholsonhas signed on to star alongsideKristen Wiigin Paramount Pictures' English-language remake ofToni Erdmann, one of this year’s Oscar nominees for Best Foreign Language Picture. The studio has recently acquired the rights to remake this German-language film, and while there is no writer or director attached, the project does have some top-flight talent producing the remake.
Varietyreports thatAdam McKayandWill Ferrellwill produce with their Gloria Sanchez Productions partnerJessica Elbaum. Gloria Sanchez Productions is a division ofAdam McKayandWill Ferrell’s Gary Sanchez Productions, which is dedicated to female-driven film and TV projects. They will all produce alongside originalToni Erdmannwriter-directorMaren AdeandJonas DornbachandJanine Jackowski, who produced the original movie.
Toni Erdmanncenters on a practical-joking father (Peter Simonischek) who tries something drastic to re-connect with his hard-working daughter. He creates an outrageous alter-ego namedToni Erdmannand becomes the life coach for the CEO of her daughter’s company. The film was given a limited release in just three U.S. theaters on Christmas Day, with Sony Pictures Classics giving it a slight expansion to 20 theaters last weekend, just days after it received itsOscar nomination. Sony Pictures Classics acquired the theatrical rights to the original after its critically-acclaimed debut at Cannes last summer.
This project will markJack Nicholson’s first movie since playing a failing businessman and father named Charles Madison inHow Do You Know, and he also appeared as himself that year in the faux documentaryI’m Still Here. There were rumors swirling about the three-time Oscar winner retiring back in 2013, after turning down a few high-profile project. He was approached in 2010 to reunite with hisA Few Good MenstarTom CruiseinEl Presidente, withMatthew Vaughnreportedly eyeing bothClint EastwoodandJack Nicholsonto star in a film calledThe Golden Age.Robert Downey Jr.also wanted the big-screen legend to play his father inThe Judge, but he also turned that down, leading toRobert Duvalllanding the role, and an Oscar nomination for his performance.
Kristen Wiigis coming off a big year in 2016, starring in Sony’sGhostbustersreboot, while lending her voice to the R-rated comedy hitSausage Partyand starring inMastermindsandZoolander 2. She will also return to voice Lucy Wilde in the highly-anticipated animated sequelDespicable Me 3, debuting in theaters on June 30. Later this year she will star in directorAlexander Payne’sDownsizingwithMatt DamonandNeil Patrick Harris, and the indie comedyThe Heyday of the Insensitive BastardswithJames Franco. Hopefully we’ll hear more about theToni Erdmannremake cast soon, now thatJack NicholsonandKristen Wiighave signed on.
