Although it would be unwise to take this as a definite yet, Deadline reports that Alexander Payne is now attached to direct Fox Searchlight’s adaptation of Daniel Clowes’ graphic novel, Wilson. The reason I urge caution is because Payne is known for jumping from project to project and not making anything. Indeed we’re still to see a follow-up to 2004’s acclaimed Sideways, although The Descendants, starring George Clooney is now in the can but yet to be released.
Clowes’ work first got attention on the silver screen with Ghost World, which was followed by the rather underwhelming Art School Confidential. Wilson is his latest work, with Fox only recently buying the screen rights to it. As with his other works, it may be graphic but it tells a very human story, this time following the story of an opinionated middle-aged loner who loves his dog and maybe nobody else and who begins a quest to find human connection with his ex-wife. Unsuprisingly it doesn’t end well.
Everything’s in the very early stages, so don’t expect a film version for a while yet, and don’t be shocked if it end up that Payne moves on and doesn’t direct this in the end.