Gene Wilder has many fans, but few have the same power as Steven Spielberg. With a 2003 episode of “Will and Grace” serving as the Blazing Saddles actor’s last credit, the 82-year-old Wilder retains a low profile inside his retirement. When he’s not slamming Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or attending premieres for Broadway’s “Young Frankenstein,” he keeps himself away from the public spotlight and writes books to stay preoccupied in his final years. Although, if the Bridges of Spies director has his way, that will soon change.
New reports suggest Spielberg and Wilder have met in regards to a role in one of the former’s multiple movies in-the-works. Which film — and what part he’d play if he agreed — is uncertain, but with October 16‘s film in the can, it has to be either a voice role in next summer’s The BFG, which is already in post-production, or an on-screen role in his follow-up, an adaptation of Ernest Cline‘s Ready Player One. With a December 15, 2017 release confirmed just last week, it won’t be too long until Spielberg finds himself on set for the sci-fi feature and it’s possible the casting process has already begun.
[amz asin=”B004J4WKUQ” size=”small”]The 2017 film appears to be a safer bet of the two, mostly because a) the cast for Spielberg’s Disney film should be entirely filled by now and b) the role of James Halliday in Cline’s book appears tailored in the vein of Willy Wonka, a part Wilder, of course, played in the 1971 film.
Without getting too deep into spoilers, Halliday is the creator of the virtual universe OASIS in the book/film and serves as a watching eye over the overload creation in the story. It’s in the mold of what Wilder brought to the screen before, and the waggish glee he captured so beautifully in his original performance seems perfect for the part in this new movie. Having him voice a small role in The BFG does make sense too, however. It would serve as a small nod to Roald Dahl‘s previous adaptations, and would find the actor returning the author’s imagination for one final go-around.
Though both prospects sound fairly exciting, this is neither confirmed nor a done deal. It’s merely speculation from two unnamed sources close to the subjects at hand (one can only assume). The logic, as stated above, certainly makes sense, though, and — if either part is fairly small, as each seem — it’s not inconceivable to see the actor take a role and get the late-in-the-game benefit of having worked with Spielberg in his career.
In the past, Wilder told the press he’d only get out of retirement for a select few people — one of those being Mel Brooks, naturally. I don’t think I need to tell anyone about how much clout this filmmaker has, however, and, though Wilder may not be concerned about money or anything, it’s hard to imagine him not being tempted at least to work with the director for one last rodeo/send-off. It’s not as though he has too much eating his time at the moment, and perhaps he’ll find the joy of acting once again if he says yes. [AICN]
