Henry Winkler is emerging as one of Hollywood’s hottest actors at the tender age of 73.
The actor, who is back in the spotlight thanks to HBO’s Barry, is making a move into film and has closed a deal to join the cast of Wes Anderson’s latest production, The French Dispatch.
Dispatch, which is already shooting in France, has its call sheet filled with the usual Anderson players, such as Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Adrian Brody and Bob Balaban, as well as company newcomers Benicio Del Toro and Timothee Chalamet.
Plot details are being kept under the printing press, but it is known to be set in the 20th century at the Paris bureau of an American newspaper and threads three storylines.
Indian Paintbrush is backing the project.
Winkler for years was one of America’s top TV stars and pop culture icons, playing the Fonz on Happy Days from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. He is experiencing a career resurgence, almost unprecedented for an actor his age, thanks to Barry, HBO’s show about a hitman, played by Bill Hader, who moves to Los Angeles and becomes an actor.
Winkler plays Gene Cousineau, Hader’s acting coach. The role earned him an Emmy for best supporting actor in a comedy in September and, more recently, a Golden Globe nomination. He is also up for a SAG Award for outstanding performance in a comedy series and a Critics Choice Award. He has just wrapped shooting season two of the show.
(Excerpt) Read more in: The Hollywood Reporter