Henry Winkler is emerging as one of Hollywood’s hottest commodities 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.
The pic, which is already shooting in France, has its call sheet filled with the usual Anderson players, including Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody and Bob Balaban, as well as newcomers Benicio del Toro and Timothee Chalamet.
Plot details are being kept under the printing press, but the film 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 was one of America’s top TV stars and pop culture icons in the 1970s, playing the Fonz on the hit sitcom Happy Days. He currently is experiencing a career resurgence, almost unprecedented for an actor his age, thanks to Barry, HBO’s show about a hitman (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. Winkler 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 Barry.
Winkler is repped by Management 360.
