Wildwood Enterprises and Route One Films announced today the start of production on A Walk in the Woods, the film adaptation of acclaimed humorist and travel writer Bill Bryson’s best-selling memoir. Ken Kwapis (He’s Just Not That Into You) has signed on to direct the film and new cast members include Nick Offerman, Kristen Schaal and two-time Academy Award winner Emma Thompson. They join Academy Award winner Robert Redford and three time Academy Award nominee Nick Nolte. The film was written by Academy Award winner Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine).
A Walk in the Woods is a road trip comedy about an aging travel writer who decides to hike the 2000-mile Appalachian Trail, accompanied by a long estranged high school buddy he’s been avoiding for years. Along the way, the duo face off with each other, nature and an eccentric assortment of characters only to discover that some roads are better left untraveled.
Director Ken Kwapis states, “Bryson’s book is the ne plus ultra of travel memoirs. It’s also laugh-out-loud funny, and what excites me is giving two legendary dramatic actors the chance to flex their comedic muscles.”
Robert Redford, Bill Holderman of Wildwood Enterprises and Chip Diggins are producing the film. Executive Producers are Jay Stern and Russell Levine of Route One Films, Lee Jea Woo, CEO of Union Investment Partners, and Jeremiah Samuels. Route One Films is financing the film through its partnership with Union Investment Partners led by Choi Pyung Ho in South Korea. Leading international sales companyIM GLOBAL is handling overseas distribution via its Acclaim specialty label.
