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Most importantly, Dunham is out as writer.

Well I need your observations like I need a...wait, how does that go again?

Wiig still seems like sort of an unusual fit for this. On paper she seems... okay? But someone like Rhea Seehorn would be an A+ choice.

I thought the best thing about Toni Ermann was its two lead actors. Been a fan of Sandra Hüller ever since I saw her in Requiem in which she gives one if my favourite performances of 21st century cinema. In principle I‘m not against remakes, very occasionally they turn out well, but all I can see a Hollywood remake doing is flattening the peculiarities of the original.

Agreed. That is tough to weigh with my desire to see Jack Nicholson playing this role though.

Nicholson has left the project. Unless they get, like, Warren Beatty, I have a hard time imagining this project getting made by Paramount.

He was the only thing about this that was a good idea

Oh god, it's going to end up being Dan Aykroyd, isn't it?

It will be one of the same old wacky stars who always get cast in these things: De Niro, Hoffman, Pacino. Close your eyes and point

Kristen Wiig had previously sought Bill Murray for the lead but apparently didn't act fast enough. Perhaps given that he's worked with Cholodenko before he'll get lured in this time.

Is Nick Nolte still alive enough? Because that would be my choice.

Or Albert Brooks.

Some harsh stuff scattered throughout this thread.
I actually HATED Toni Erdmann, so have no worries about an American remake ruining it.
Paltrow seemed like a good call.
I've been waiting to like Wiig in something, but it's hard to see this being the vehicle.

Lemmy Caution wrote: Thu Aug 16, 2018 9:55 am I actually HATED Toni Erdmann

I _liked_ Toni Erdmann well enough -- but don't particularly want to ever re-see it.

It's grown in my esteem through two viewings and an inevitable third upcoming... it sort of gets inside of you and doesn't leave, even if the initial viewing doesn't seem like it's going to lead to that. And mostly for some of the more melancholy personal moments and social commentary rather than the gags, since it somewhat inaccurately purports to be a comedy. One of my very favorites of this decade.

I certainly can't imagine a remake could better the _real_ cast.

There's a great deal of commentary to be done about class and the existential and literal grind of white collar execs that would apply well to the United States, but I can almost guarantee that this film won't have any of that nuance and will just feature Wiig as a busy career woman who is too busy to spend time with her father, but that has a job that is aspirational in some way. I would be completely shocked if her character were in the business of outsourcing/firing as Ines is in the original, although I guess Up in the Air got made here.