Stuck in development hell for years, comedy drama Honeymoon With Harry has at last been given a new lease of life. Per Deadline, New Line Cinema has brought fresh blood aboard the ten-year old property in the hopes of making production a reality. First up, the studio’s roped in Crazy, Stupid, Love scribe Dan Fogelman to punch up the script and is expected to secure Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro in the two lead roles.
Judging by the synopsis offered by the outlet, the movie sounds like perfect awards fodder – that perfect hybrid of tragedy and comedy – ripe for Academy consideration. The prior working relationship between Cooper and De Niro, who collaborated on Limitless and The Silver Linings Playbook, ought to make Cooper’s transition behind the camera a lot smoother as well. While neither have confirmed their involvement, if Cooper signs on he’ll be working double duty as he’s reportedly keen to make the project his directorial debut.
So, what’s it all about? Honeymoon with Harry revolves around “a formerly self-centered womanizing booze-hound who changed his ways when he met a girl and fell in love. He’s loathed by the girl’s dad, who recognizes himself in the young man. They get engaged anyway. When she dies tragically just before their wedding, the devastated groom heads off on their honeymoon to drown his sorrows and drink himself to death. Who does he meet but his almost father-in-law, who has come to spread his daughter’s ashes on her favorite beach.”
Needless to say, Cooper is being eyed to nab the role of the womanizing lush, while De Niro is in the crosshairs for the father-in-law role. Back in 2010 the pair took part in a script reading, so their familiarity with the material will stand them in good stead.
Years before Crash and Million Dollar Baby, Paul Haggis scripted an earlier version of the flick based on an unpublished manuscript by Bart Baker. This was back in 2004, when Jack Nicholson and Vince Vaughn were attached to star in that iteration, which fell through due to budgetary issues. Silence Of The Lambs‘ helmer Jonathan Demme briefly flirted with the idea of directing as well before it was once again put on pause.
Now that it’s back on track with two big names in the saddle, we can expect more news on Honeymoon with Harry in the near future.
