Dogmatika – Jerry Stahl is part of the script writing team [with Terry Zwigoff] who wrote the book I, Fatty that Infinitum Nihil optioned for a future film. Another future project in collaboration with Johnny Depp is Happy Days with the same script writing team.
Terry Zwigoff:: I’m working on trying to cast a film that I have a script to that’s a really great script that I don’t really want to tell you what it is in case I can’t get it cast to please the studio. Cause if that – if I don’t – I mean, the trouble in making films in Hollywood at a decent budget, where we can have good production design and time for nice cinematography, is that you really have to get bankable movie stars in the film. And oftentimes, those are not the right people to do justice to the script. So it’s always a struggle.
“What is this person worth?”
“Well, but they’re no good for the part.”
“Can I get this one?”
“No, they’re not worth anything and overseas.”
So that’s what I’m struggling with that. And I’m writing -adapting a book for Johnny Depp called Happy Days, getting paid to turn this into a script and maybe direct it down the road.
It’s a French book by this guy Laurent Graff. A strange little book that Johnny really liked and wanted me to meet with him about it. And I went to this meeting feeling like I like the book. I didn’t think I could do it justice. And he sort of talked me into writing it. I’m writing it with this guy – I’m co-writing it with a guy named Jerry Stahl, the guy who did Permanent Midnight. I’m trying to talk Johnny Depp out of me having to write the screenplay. I said, “I’d be interested in directing it if you can get a screenplay that works. But I like the book, but I don’t know if I’m the guy to adapt it.” And he said, “Did you ever see this guy’s writing, Jerry Stahl?” I said, “I know Jerry Stahl a little bit. I really like him. That’s an inspired choice.” Johnny roped him into this thing. So we’re doing it together. It’s sort of interesting.
[via The Comics Reporter]
