I first ran across The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared as it played at some local festivals a few years ago, passing up the Swedish film because I got bored before finishing the title. The adaptation of Jonas Jonasson‘s bestselling book would become one of Sweden's highest-grossing movies ever (behind The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo movies, naturally), and as is generally the case with hit foreign films, it's going to get an American remake. And this one will star Will Ferrell.
Ferrell will star in and produce the remake alongside his buddy Adam McKay. Narcos writer Jason George will pen the screenplay which centers on a former explosives expert who runs away from his nursing home on his 100th birthday Here's the book's synopsis, which clues us in to the centenarian's wild adventure:
He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey, involving, among other surprises, a suitcase stuffed with cash, some unpleasant criminals, a friendly hot-dog stand operator, and an elephant (not to mention a death by elephant).
It would be the adventure of a lifetime for anyone else, but Allan has a larger-than-life backstory: Not only has he witnessed some of the most important events of the twentieth century, but he has actually played a key role in them. Starting out in munitions as a boy, he somehow finds himself involved in many of the key explosions of the twentieth century and travels the world, sharing meals and more with everyone from Stalin, Churchill, and Truman to Mao, Franco, and de Gaulle.
Sounds like Grumpy Old Men meets Forrest Gump, a combination that could prove to be both a box office success and a possible awards contender if it's ready by this time next year. The Swedish film was an Oscar nominee for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and I imagine Ferrell will be undergoing some heavy work to play the full age range of the lead character. [THR]
