While the idea for a remake of 2011 French comedy drama The Intouchables has been floating around for a while, it took a step closer to reality when it was revealed in March that Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart were in talks to star. With their deals now closed, Neil Burger has come aboard to direct.
Intouchables, as it was known in France, sees Francois Cluzet as Phillippe, a wealthy aristocrat who becomes a quadriplegic after a paragliding accident. When he needs to hire a caretaker and companion, he rejects the seemingly perfect candidates for a charismatic, but troubled young man from the projects (Omar Sy). It's been through the development ringer on the US side, with the likes of Paul Feig considering the project, but The Weinstein Company has turned to Burger (who made his first film, The Illusionist for the company) to call the shots.
The debate remains whether this one needs remaking, but the combo of Hart and Cranston is interesting, at least in a hypothetical sense, and all involved are apparently happy with writer Jon Hartmere's fresh take on the story. Weinstein's team has pencilled in a January start date for shooting and is hoping to film in New York.
As for Burger, he went on to make Limitless and the first Divergent film, and is writing a Bride Of Frankenstein movie for Universal's connected monster universe.