11/20/2014
Zach Braff to Direct Remake of George Burns Comedy, 'Going in Style'
Now that his Kickstarter panhandling has paid off with Wish I Was Here, Zach Braff is ready to direct his first true studio effort. A remake of the 1979 George Burns comedy Going in Style has been in the works for awhile, with Don Scardino (The Incredible Burt Wonderstone) once eyed to direct, only to be replaced last year by Ted Melfi (St. Vincent) who also wrote the screenplay. While Melfi's script remains in play, it will be Braff who is running things.
The original film starred Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg as bored geriatrics who decide to knock off a bank. This new version will stick to the plotline, but this thing is going to be sold on who stars the grumpy old trio. The usual suspects of Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Alan Arkin were up for it at one point, and chances are they'll be considered again because everybody loves those guys.
So good for Braff that he doesn't have to stand on the corner begging for cash this time. [Deadline]