“Girls” collaborators Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner are in “early talks” to write Paramount’s English-language remake of the Oscar-nominated German dark comedy “Toni Erdmann,” Deadline reports.
Written and directed by Maren Ade, the original “Toni Erdmann” follows a father (Peter Simonischek) and daughter (Sandra Hüller) whose personalities are radically different from one another. Ines is an overworked, polished management consultant who is deeply invested in other people’s opinions of her. Her meticulously managed life is turned upside down when her music teacher father, Winifried, shows up from out of town at her work for an unexpected visit.
No word on how closely the new film will follow the original’s plot.
Kristen Wiig and Jack Nicholson have signed on to star in the remake. A director isn’t attached yet.
“Toni Erdmann” made its world premiere at Cannes last year. Considered a favorite by many at the fest, the pic didn’t end up snagging any awards. It did, however, win the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Grand Prix for best film of the year, an honor Ade accepted at the San Sebastian Film Festival’s opening night gala ceremony.
The film went on to earn many more nominations and awards. It swept the the main categories of the 2016 European Film Awards, taking home Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and acting honors for stars Hüller and Simonischek. Ade is the first woman to win Best Film at the awards in their entire 29 years. “Toni Erdmann” came in at number one on Sight & Sound’s prestigious annual critics’ poll. The UK magazine asked 163 critics and curators to name their five best films of the year, and Ade’s third feature came out victorious and made history: This year’s list marks the first time that a woman-directed film has taken the top spot.
Ade told Women and Hollywood that she was drawn to this story because she wanted to “tell something about family — about the assigned roles everybody plays in families, and about the wish to break out of that and to start from zero.”
Dunham and Konner seem like a good fit for the project. “Girls” often tackled messy relationship dynamics between its 20-something protagonists and their parents. Plus, imagine Dunham’s take on “Erdmann’s” legendary nude scene? One of the most memorable parts in the original film involves very different nudity than we’re used to seeing onscreen — something Dunham is famous for in “Girls.”
The sixth and final season of “Girls” concluded on HBO this April. Dunham created the coming-of-age comedy, and Konner served as executive producer and co-showrunner.
