While it may not hit the synapses as instantly as, say, the name Don Draper, the name Matthew Weiner is one that should be familiar to all fans of Mad Men. Without him, there wouldn’t even be a show in the first place. With the fifth season just kicking off both here and across the pond, Weiner is switching his attention to making movies, snagging the services of Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis and, possibly, Amy Poehler for You Are Here.
The film will see the two men, who were childhood friends, go on a road trip spurred by the death of Galifianakis’ father, who has left him a considerable sum in his will. Given what happened the last time anyone went on a road trip after the death of a Galifianakis character’s father (Due Date), we’d be very worried for Wilson… Oh, and assuming she signs on, Poehler will play his sister.
"This movie has been my passion for eight years, and to see it come together with Owen and Zach and Amy is a dream come true," Weiner tells Variety. "I can't wait to get started because the movie is about everything I care about, and I'm tired of reading it out loud to my friends." It’s not his first stint behind the camera, though few people have seen** What Do You Do All Day**, which according to the trade mag, premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and has rarely been seen since.
Still, Mad Men (and his work on The Sopranos before it) is a heck of a calling card, so it’s not surprising that Weiner’s been able to secure a solid cast for this next stab at film directing.
Talking of Mad Men, have you checked out our 10 Great Moments feature yet?