Image Credit: C Flanigan/FilmMagicDrama-heavy FX is getting serious about comedy. To wit: The cabler has successfully wooed ex-hobbit Elijah Wood to headline its in-the-works U.S. remake of the hit Australian sitcom Wilfred.
The project, which is being adapted by Family Guy vet David Zuckerman, revolves around a guy (Wood), a girl, and a mixed-breed dog named Wilfred, whom Zuckerman describes as “part Labrador retriever and part Russell Crowe on a bender.”
Jason Gann, who co-created and starred in the Aussie version, will once again play the title role (that is, when said title role appears in human form).
This marks Wood’s first major foray into television. The Lord of the Rings vet will next be seen in the fall film The Romantics opposite Katie Holmes, Josh Duhamel, and Anna Paquin.
Production on the Wilfred pilot will begin later this summer.
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I’m intrigued.
I second that. This is interesting news indeed. I hope that this turns out to be a successful project for Elijah.
i’m just confused. why do we want to see the dog as a person? i don’t see this translating at all. reminds me of that show happily ever after where they had the sam kinison puppet which added nothing to the show and was just weird. i accept a lot of things from people with accents that i won’t from americans. the talking dog/baby/bear premise also can work on a cartoon, but not on american tv.
You should try and check out some of the Aussie version if you can, a lot of us over here thought the same thing but the way the show delivered was just amazingly funny. It’s sort of a very dry humor & I only hope this remake translates better then Kath & Kim!
Did you ever read Kalvin and Hobbs? The whole charm to Watterson’s brilliant cartoon series was that only Kalvin could see Hobbs true nature. Same idea here. Wood is the only character that can see the dogs true nature. With computer generated tech that is available they could have easily generated a talking dog, but that would have just been a Mr. Ed type sit-com. It will be far more intelligently written and funny because it will have to get over the hurdle of “Why watch a guy in a dog suit?”. Why view a dog as a person? Hell most dog owners already believe that their dog is a person.
Elijah Wood <3
I know! He’s so cute!
I know!!! I still can’t get over those gorgeous eyes
I know tooo!!! I loooove love love Elijah Wood and I can’t wait to see him on tv–I hope its a good show though
Jesus…. will you people leave nothing alone? you’re aware that Wilfred is a guy in a dog suit right?
Jesus…. will you people leave nothing alone? you’re aware that Wilfred is a guy in a dog suit right?
I’ve loved this kid since “Radio Flyer”
Im Australian, and quite enjoyed the original show. Im just afraid it may be something that may not translate to American comedy. Remember the Kath and Kim remake? It was horrible. I promise you the original show was a thousand times better and hilarious. But fingers crossed, I hope Wilfred stays funny. Its a good sign they have the same guy involved playing the dog.
I’m hoping that coz it’s on a cable station they may take better care of it.
I hear you on the Kath & Kim thing – I’d just be curious to see an American version of Fat Pizza – that might be the worst thing ever.
No way Fat Pizza would ever work. Americans just wouldnt understand the bogan subculture.
I have a good feeling about this show actually working out. The FX station has been solid gold.
Im Australian, and quite enjoyed the original show. Im just afraid it may be something that may not translate to American comedy. Remember the Kath and Kim remake? It was horrible. I promise you the original show was a thousand times better and hilarious. But fingers crossed, I hope Wilfred stays funny. Its a good sign they have the same guy involved playing the dog.
I’m hoping that coz it’s on a cable station they may take better care of it.
I hear you on the Kath & Kim thing – I’d just be curious to see an American version of Fat Pizza – that might be the worst thing ever.
I loved the American Kath and Kim. so phhhhhht. It was way better than that boring Australian version. lol Fat Pizza kind of sucked too.
then you have no taste. your comment is considered moot.
@well – soo much respect for you
I don’t know about “Kath and Kim”, but I definitely know about mutilated British shows that have fallen prey to American directors. It’s disgusting. However, the trailer I saw for Wilfred is the first time in my relatively short life that I’ve seen an ad for new American TV show that did not look like it would suck (and I’ve lived in the US my whole 17 years), and I think they changed the premise a fair bit, so there’s at least hope with this one. Nothing to do but wait and see, though, really.
He will never cease to be Frodo will he? I’ll watch though.
He will never cease to be Frodo will he? I’ll watch though.
mixed feelings…Elijah weekly…Good
but…hope its good. He can be quite funny.
mixed feelings…Elijah weekly…Good
but…hope its good. He can be quite funny.
Wow! What shiny pretty blue eyes Elijah has!
At some point or another, Daniel Radcliffe, Elijah Wood, and Tobey MaGuire have got to play brothers in a film. It just has to happen.
i also want chace crawford, ian sommerlander and zac efron to do the same thing. maybe one film with 2 rival gangs of brothers?
I’d rather they all play participants in an all-male orgy.
I would like to see Ian Somerhalder and Rob Lowe do something together. Those two look eerily similar.
That movie would just have way too much awesome for anyone to handle.
+1 @ Teener. That is something we could all enjoy!
Wood and Dan-Rad are brothers. I don`t care if they don`t know it yet but it`s way too obvious. Tobey is pretty similar too but Wood and Rad are the real deal. Just wait and see. The truth is out there.
ahhh. he’s short. why work? he’s got millions to live off of.
I will watch Elijah in anything, anywhere, at any time. I’ve been following his career since he was 9, and I’m not about to stop now!