Large Cast for Schrader's 'Walker'

Harrelson takes on gigolo role.

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Friday, March 24th 2006 at 6:43 PM

This one confuses me a little, so let me get through the particulars first.

Variety is reporting that Woody Harrelson is set to star in the title role in The Walker, a pic written and to be directed by Paul Schrader. Rounding out the rest of the cast is a large list of names including Kristin Scott Thomas, Lauren Bacall, Ned Beatty, Moritz Bleibtreu, Willem Dafoe and Lily Tomlin with shooting set to begin next week in the U.K.

Now for the tricky part, Harrelson will play an escort of society ladies in D.C. Schrader said the character is his vision of what his "American Gigolo" protag would have become when he hit 50. That is how the Variety article described the flick and then they went on to quote Schrader saying, "His gifts are now more social than sexual. He's this society walker who has his lady friends, and a boyfriend on the side. [Harrelson's] wittiness is the initial point of entry for the viewer into a story which takes a dark turn. This will be quite a transformation for him, from the hairpiece and his manner to the clothes he wears"

So, let me get this straight. Harrelson is playing a gay gigolo/escort who is now making more of a Deuce Bigolow (a.k.a. non sexual) relationship with his clients while carrying out a homosexual relationship on the side, a role I can only assume is going to be placed in the able, yet creepy, hands of Willem Dafoe.

Wherever this film is going I am not sure if I want to follow, but that isn't going to stop it from being made, so let's see how it all works out.

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