Will Ferrell is set to star in an adaptation of The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
Will Ferrell is set to star in an adaptation of the Jonas Jonasson novel The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, according to THR. Ferrell will also produce with Adam McKay and Jessica Elbaum from Gary Sanchez, alongside Andy Licht and Pontus Edgren and Mikael Wallen from Nice FLX Pictures. Jason George (Narcos) will pen the script. Joshua Mehr will co-produce.
Here is the Amazon description of “The 100-Year-Old Man:” “After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he’s still in good health, and in one day, he turns 100. A big celebration is in the works, but Allan really isn’t interested (and he’d like a bit more control over his vodka consumption). So he decides to escape. 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.”
Jonasson reportedly said in a statement, “My character, Allan, knows the art of being funny just by being. That is something Will Ferrell masters to perfection. Great humor with small measurements. I am happy that Allan is now in his hands.”
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared has sold over 10 million copies. A Swedish film based on the book became one of the highest grossing films of all time in that country. Felix Herngren and Henrik Jansson-Schweizer co-wrote the screenplay for the Swedish film and will executive produce the American version.
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