Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk has set his sights on a new leading man – he’s set to star in a charity remake of cult classic The Room. Odenkirk shared a report announcing the movie from SlashFilm (opens in a new tab) on Twitter (opens in a new tab)writing, “It’s real. It’s true. And let me tell you, I did my best to SELL every line, as honestly as possible…and I had a BLAST.”
Odenkirk took on the role of Johnny, originally played by Tommy Wiseau. Filming for the remake took place in January, shot mostly on green screen, with Acting for a Cause behind the film, an organization that raises money for charitable causes by asking for donations tied to digital performances. This time, the proceeds will go to amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. The band’s previous projects include A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Julia Fox as Hippolyta and Jane Eyre with Stranger Things’ Natalia Dyer in the title role.
The original film was released in 2003 and follows the love triangle between Johnny, his fiancée Lisa (Juliette Danielle) and his best friend Mark (Greg Sestero). Although it was a box office bomb on its initial limited release, grossing less than $2,000 against a budget of $6 million, the film quickly became a cult hit due to its bizarre content and the mystery surrounding Wiseau and his secret identity (one fan theory is that he is a DB Cooper hijacker). Sestero’s memoir of the making of the film, titled The Disaster Artist, was also made into a film, released in 2017, and directed by and starring James Franco.
While we wait for Odenkirk’s version of The Room to hit our screens, check out our guide to the best upcoming movies on the horizon in 2023 and beyond.