A biopic about Gene Wilder is officially in development. Filmmaker Dito Montiel has secured the rights to tell the late actor’s life story from his estate. The project aims to explore the full scope of Wilder’s extraordinary career, which revolutionized screen comedy. The upcoming film promises to delve into the journey of a man whose work left an indelible mark on Hollywood, with some of his performances remaining among the most quoted in film history.
From his eccentric portrayal of the chocolatier in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory to his frantic performance as Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein, Wilder’s characters seamlessly blended chaos with underlying sadness. The film seeks to understand the shy stage actor who evolved into a unique cinematic icon.
Dito Montiel will direct the movie, working from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jeremy Roth, whose credits include writing for Hulu’s Love, Victor and How I Met Your Father. The production team features Aimee Schoof, Isen Robbins, and Megan Freels Johnston of Intrinsic Value Films, along with Josh Kesselman of Mgmt Entertainment. The biopic will chronicle Wilder’s journey from his early days on stage to his rise as a Hollywood legend, while also examining the personal struggles that paralleled his professional achievements.
Throughout his career, Wilder earned two Academy Award nominations—one for supporting actor as Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks’ The Producers, and another for co-writing the adapted screenplay for Young Frankenstein.
Montiel, known for his acclaimed memoir and film A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, commented on Wilder’s complex personality: “Gene Wilder was one of those rare people who was somehow funnier and sadder than everyone else in the room at the same time. That’s not just a character. That’s a life. I couldn’t say no to that.”
A release date and additional details have yet to be announced.
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