Of all the films being developed in the Hollywood-sphere right now, perhaps no other has more reasons to be excited about it than the upcoming, based-on-a-true-story shocker Freezing People is Easy. First off, it’s based on the life story of Robert Nelson, a man who spearheaded a movement in cryonics that saw several bodies being frozen back in the 60s, with disastrous results. Nelson’s story is darkly funny, shockingly grizzly, and endlessly interesting due to its many twists and turns. It’s already been documented to great success in the man’s memoirs, “We Froze the First Man,” and also in a segment on the radio program This American Life entitled “Cold as Ice,” and it’s really a tale that everyone needs to hear.
Secondly, the talent bringing this story into yet another medium, this time the big screen, is impressive. Freezing People is Easy is set to be the second dramatic work by famed documentarian Errol Morris (Tabloid), and it’s being shot from a screenplay that was written by Stranger Than Fiction’s Zach Helm. These are names whose next projects I would have been anticipating whether they were attached to a story I was already interested in or not. Throw them all together and there’s reason to celebrate.
The third reason I’m looking forward to this one is how well the cast seems to be shaping up. It’s already been reported that Paul Rudd is attached to play Nelson as the lead, and now a report from Deadline Redondo Beach says that he’s likely to be joined in the cast by three big, exciting new names. Though what roles they’re going to play haven’t been disclosed, apparently Owen Wilson, Christopher Walken, and Kristen Wiig are all circling the project, and are said to be likely to join.
Wiig is the biggest wildcard, as she still has some Saturday Night Live commitments to take care of and already has a full dance card after that. But even if they can’t land Wiig, that’s still an impressive lineup of talent already. This one is set for a mid-2012 start, so start clearing your schedule in 2013; you’ll have to fight me to be first in line.