Scott Adams’ satirical comic strip Dilbert has been chronicling the weird ways of office drones since 1989. In that time, it’s been adapted as a cartoon series a video game and enough Dogbert/Catbert/Wally/Asok-branded merchandise to rival Garfield. But it’s never been a movie, despite a previous, seemingly abortive attempt by Chris Columbus three years ago. But now Pajiba is reporting that Dilbert** might still hit live action, thanks to He’s Just Not That Into You director Ken Kwapis.
Pajiba’s source is saying that Phoenix Entertainment, which produced Shutter Island and Zodiac, and has been driving development on the Robocop remake, has the rights to the strip and is aiming to mount a cinematic version.
Given the film that Dilbert and co most closely resemble is Office Space, it’s not exactly shocking that the producers would look to hire someone who has crafted many episodes of **The Office **across the pond. Still, with a decidedly spotty film career to date (including the awful Licence To Wed), we’re hoping that if this does come to fruition, Kwapis will be wearing his smart, funny **Office **hat, not his Slapdash Robin Williams Comedy cap).
Can the cartoon actually make it on to the screen this time? And, more importantly, is it still worth doing in an era when corporate culture has been thoroughly strip-mined for comedy value?