Warner Bros. and Boyhood director Richard Linklater have parted ways on the studio’s planned remake of The Incredible Mr. Limpet, despite the helmer having been attached to the project since 2011. Apparently, Warner Bros. eventually realized that Linklater’s schedule would not allow production on the film to commence in a timely fashion, and it wants to get The Incredible Mr. Limpet into theaters sooner rather than later.
Other directors have been approached by the studio, but no names have been dropped in association with the remake just yet. Like the 1964 family film, this take on the novel by Theodore Pratt will also focus on a man who is transformed into a fish. However, the story will no longer take place during World War II. This time around, The Incredible Mr. Limpet will find the title character as a beach bum and conservationist who is devoted to saving the fish population around his town. Inexplicably, he finds himself transformed into a fish and uses his newfound abilities to help protect the marine community.
The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis is attached to the lead role, while Jon Hamm (Mad Men) is in talks for the part of the human villain, a nasty guy who mines the sea floor. Danny McBride (This is the End) and Sarah Silverman (School of Rock) are reportedly looking at live-action roles, while the voice cast may include Kevin Hart (Ride Along), Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele (of Key & Peele and Fargo), and Josh Gad (Thanks for Sharing). It’s unknown whether that cast will change now that Linklater has departed.
The Boyhood helmer is expected to be kept busy on the awards circuit with that acclaimed film this fall, and he’s also interested in getting to work on a spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused, titled That’s What I’m Talking About. Set in the ’80s, it follows university students as they navigate freshman year and attempt to make the baseball team. He’s aiming to shoot it in the fall, using the success of Boyhood to gain studio approval for what will be a more niche passion project. Larry’s Kidney, an adaptation of Daniel Asa Rose’s memoir which currently has Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis attached, is also high on the director’s to-do list.
We’ll keep you posted as Warner Bros. nails down a new director for The Incredible Mr. Limpet, which we’ll likely see either late next year or in 2016.