Director Richard Linklater is betting that movies will still be a thing in 20 years, as that's apparently how long his next one will take to shoot.
The acclaimed director of Boyhood is working on an adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along, Collider reported on Thursday, but here's the kicker: because the play takes place over the course of two decades, Collider reports Linklater is planning to shoot the movie over the course of two decades, too.
As wild as that idea is, it's not entirely new territory for Linklater, who shot his 2014 movie Boyhood gradually over the course of 12 years, chronicling one boy as he grows up. Linklater has also been following up his 1995 romance Before Sunrise with a new installment every nine years. But he's taking this obsession with time to the next level with this movie, which, depending on when it goes into production, won't be finished until around 2040, when Linklater will be turning 80.
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Collider's report doesn't include further details about how the production of Merrily We Roll Along will work, but the movie is reportedly set to star Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein, who just found themselves with two decades worth of job security. Given the fluid nature of Hollywood today, let's hope Linklater is fully prepared for this insane, monumental project to transform into some sort of futuristic VR experience somewhere midstream.
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