Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to play cartoonist John Callahan in a new movie.
The 42-year-old actor looks set to team up with director Gus Van Sant once again on the forthcoming film, ‘Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot’, about the quadriplegic whose works were somewhat controversial.
According to Variety, Charles-Marie Anthonioz, Mourad Belkeddar, and Nicolas Lhermitte will produce the motion picture which has long been in development.
The movie will be based on the cartoonist’s autobiography of the same name and tells all about his life, including when he became paralysed aged just 21 after a car accident.
The artist – who died in July 2010 aged 59 – turned to drawing after the incident, holding a pen between both hands, and several of his subjects were considered taboo.
Some of his works appeared in his local Portland newspaper Willamette Week, but his cartoons would often lead to protests against the publication and boycotts.
Callahan started drinking alcohol aged 12 but later gave up at 27 following his car accident, which occurred while he was bar hopping.
The motion picture has long been talked about with the late Robin Williams previously thought to be in the frame to portray the cartoonist.
Phoenix and Van Sant worked together on 1995 comedy-drama movie ‘To Die For’, the actor’s breakthrough role as a leading character.
Joaquin Phoenix in talks for John Callahan role
