The New York Post reports that Jamie Foxx, Idris Elba and Chris Rock are among the stars in the race for the lead role in Paul Feig’s remake of the French hit The Intouchables.
The original film, which opened in the US on May 25, is about a wealthy man who hires a guy from the projects to be his caretaker following a paralyzing accident. Colin Firth is in talks to play aristocrat Phillipe, and Michelle Williams and Jessica Chastain are in the mix for the female lead.
The French version was a critical darling and earned lots of acclaim for Senegalese actor Omar Sy, who plays Algerian tough Driss in the original.
The project, which is being produced by Oscar-favorite The Weinstein Company, is a departure for director Feig, who is known as a comedy director. No word yet on if his American remake will take a lighter tone than the French original or if he’s making a dramatic turn.