Richard Linklater is known as a critical darling of sorts, and his new film has that same potential…especially given its pedigree.
Linklater is set to adapt the novel, Last Flag Flying which was written by Darryl Ponicsan in 2005. According to a report by Variety, Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell, and Laurence Fishburne have been officially cast in leading roles.
The film is set to be a sequel of sorts to the 1973 film The Last Detail, based on Poniscan’s 1970 book of the same name. The film starred Jack Nicholson, Otis Young, Randy Quaid, Carol Kane, Gilda Radner, Clifton James, Michael Moriarity, and Karen Allen. It was directed by Hal Ashby. The film scored Oscar nomination for Nicholson (Best Actor), Quaid (Best Supporting Actor), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Last Flag Flying is, “Set during the Iraq War, the more recent book sees the return of the classic characters Billy Bad-Ass, Mule, and the hapless Meadows. The former Navy petty officers (played by Nicholson and Young in the original film) come to the aid of the ex-con trying to bring home the body of his son, who was killed in Iraq.”
No word on when the film is set for release, but with this cast I’m sure we will see it at the Oscars soon.
