I don't know how much of an audience there is for a biopic on a polka dancing superstar, but with the cast being assembled for
The Polka King it could be bigger than expected. Joining Jack Black in the upcoming film are JB Smoove, Jason Schwartzman, Jacki Weaver, Vanessa Bayer (
Trainwreck), and Willie Garson.
The film is being co-directed by Maya Forbes and Wally Wolodarsky, the duo behind 2014's Infinitely Polar Bear, and centers on polka sensation Jan Lewan. Lewan was a Pennsylvania celebrity who shocked the polka world when it was revealed he had lured fans into a Ponzi scheme, leading to his ultimate downfall.
On the surface this sounds like the a similarly-peculiar movie as Jack Black's underrated
Bernie, which nobody saw but ranks as probably his finest career performance. Can it possibly live up to that level? [
Deadline]
