Zach Galifianakis to Star in Film Version of A Confederacy of Dunces

Posted on May 27, 2012

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.


More from Writers Write


  • 2024 Nebula Award Winners Announced


  • Merriam-Webster Names Polarization 2024 Word of the Year


  • Winners of the 2024 Kirkus Prizes Announced


  • Han Kang Wins The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2024


  • 2024 National Book Awards Finalists Announced


  • New in Products: Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition