David Wain To Direct Too Cool To Be Forgotten?

Between his work on The State and Wet Hot American Summer, David Wain pretty much has a free pass from me. Role Models was more a work for hire gig for the director, and I've been hoping his next film would be something brewed more from (or in accordance with) his own sensibility. Now there's word that he may make his first comic book-based film, with an adaptation of the graphic novel Too Cool to Be Forgotten.

Pajiba has it that Wain is 'circling' the adaptation of Alex Robinson's graphic novel. That's a project that was set in motion last summer, when producer Anthony Bregman talked to MTV about having optioned the work. The plot of the graphic novel goes like so: "In 2010, mild-mannered software engineer Andrew Wicks goes to a hypnotist to quit smoking, but wakes up from his trance to find himself in high school in 1985."

So, while this is a 'comic book movie' in the purest sense, it isn't difficult at all to see how Wain would easily take to this material. It could be a little bit Wet Hot American Summer, especially if the same actor plays the character in 2010 and 1985, with ties to a lot of classic comedy film ideas. It's miles better than directing a Meet the Parents sequel, which is something Wain was discussing around this time last year.

Here's a longer synopsis of the book, from publisher Top Shelf's website:

Andy Wicks is a forty-something father of two who's tried everything to quit smoking — from going cold turkey, to the latest patches and nicotine chewing gums — so he figures he'll give this hypnosis thing a try. What's the worst that could happen? Unfortunately, Andy gets dealt a fate worse than death — high school! Transported back to 1985, Andy returns to his formative years as a gangly, awkward teenager. Is he doomed to relive the mistakes of his past, or has he been given a second chance to get things right? One thing's for sure: this time he's going to ask out that girl from math class...

I'm also still holding out some hope that Wain will get to do the extended cut of Wet Hot American Summer he's discussed as a possible anniversary DVD edition. Wain has also talked about making a prequel to that comedy, with the same actors playing characters way to young for them — in this case they'd now be twenty years too old for their roles. Which could be a great time, should the money ever come together to make it happen.