Vulture
reports that Zach Galifianakis has been cast as
Ignatius J. Reilly in the long-awaited film adaptation of John Kennedy Toole's
Pulitzer Prize–winning novel,
A Confederacy of Dunces. Vulture says that
James Bobin (
The Muppets) will direct, and Scott Rudin and Paramount will produce. Phil Johnston is expected to write the screenplay.
The film has been in development hell for decades. Over the years, everyone from Will Ferrell to John Belushi to John Candy has been set to star as Reilly. Some critics think the book is essentially unfilmable, but it would be more accurate to say that it will be difficult to execute the film in a way that will make fans of the book happy. We think Zach is a good choice: he was amazing in the recently cancelled
Bored to Death on HBO.
Photo: Grove Weidenfeld
