2 days ago
EXCLUSIVE: Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints) is group to nonstop a biopic based connected nan life of legendary actor, writer, and head Gene Wilder aft securing life authorities from Wilder’s Estate.
Montiel has scripted nan task pinch Jeremy Roth, whose credits see Hulu’s Love, Victor and How I Met Your Father. Aimee Schoof, Isen Robbins, and Megan Freels Johnston will nutrient for Intrinsic Value Films (Queen of nan Ring, 5lbs of Pressure) alongside Josh Kesselman (The Great, Parish) of Mgmt Entertainment.
A two-time Oscar and Golden Globe nominee champion known for his unforgettable performances successful nan original Willy Wonka & nan Chocolate Factory, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles and The Producers, Wilder remains 1 of nan astir beloved and influential performers successful movie history. The biopic will research nan man down nan iconic performances, tracing his emergence from a awkward young theatre character to 1 of cinema’s astir singular comedic voices, while examining nan individual struggles, relationships, and challenges that shaped some his life and work.
“Gene Wilder was 1 of those uncommon group who was someway funnier and sadder than everyone other successful nan room astatine nan aforesaid time. That’s not a character. That’s a life,” Montiel said. “I couldn’t opportunity nary to that.”
Producer Schoof told us, “Dito has a singular expertise to clasp drama and complexity successful nan aforesaid framework without flinching. We are thrilled to person him directing this film.”
Montiel is nan filmmaker and bestselling writer who collapsed retired with A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, nan movie adjustment of his memoir, detailing his acquisition coming of property amid nan emergence of nan hardcore punk segment successful Astoria, Queens successful nan early ’80s. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chazz Palminteri, and Channing Tatum, nan movie earned aggregate awards successful its Sundance premiere, including nan Director’s Award and a Special Jury Prize recognizing its ensemble, besides securing aggregate Independent Spirit Award nominations.
In nan past 2 decades, Montiel has followed up his debut characteristic pinch nan crime dramas Fighting and The Son of No One starring Tatum; crime thriller Empire State starring Dwayne Johnson, Liam Hemsworth, and Emma Roberts; nan Robin Williams-led Boulevard; Shia LaBeouf starrer Man Down; nan dramedy The Clapper starring Ed Helms and Amanda Seyfried; and astir recently, nan crime comedy Riff Raff with Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Bill Murray, Gabrielle Union, and more. He is represented by WME and Mgmt Entertainment’s Kesselman.
Roth is repped by Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment. David Shapira of David Shapira & Associates reps nan Estate of Gene Wilder.
