Almost since it was published in 1980, Hollywood has been sniffing around John Kennedy Tooles A Confederacy Of Dunces for a film adaptation, but it’s never happened. Now Paramount say they’re moving forward with Dunces, with Vulture reporting that Zach Galifianakis is in talks to star, and Muppets helmer Jame Bobin may direct.
Cedar Rapids’ writer Phil Johnston is attached to write the script for this latest version of the script, The book is set in the early 60s in New Orleans, where a lazy, overweight, strangely dressed modern Don Quixote is forced to move out of his mother’s house and find his place in the world.
A film version came closest to reality in 2005 when Ferrell was attached to play the lead and David Gordon Green was going to direct. Steven Soderbergh and Scott Kramer were writing the script and Lily Tomlin was on-board to play Ignatius’ mother. Whether it really happens this time is still uncertain, but they’re certainly trying.