John Hughes is on a lot of peoples' minds today, following the lovely tribute to him during last night's Oscar ceremony and the bizarre and somewhat miraculous appearance onstage of half the Brat Pack-- Judd Nelson, is that really you? But as it turns out, John Hughes isn't just around in memory-- one of his final unproduced screenplays, Grisbys Go Broke, has been getting read a lot in Hollywood, and rumors had been floating that Paramount was interested in producing it.
Not so fast, according to THR-- Paramount has made no official negotiations to buy the screenplay. But the article suggests that the studio, which distributed the last film Hughes ever wrote, Drillbit Taylor, would probably be interested in getting in the Hughes business again. Hughes gave them major hits with Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, after all, and the nostalgia factor along would likely get audience in seats for a final Hughes film.
The story of Grisbys follows a wealthy Chicago family who lose all their money and move out to the country-- particularly timely now, of course. The movie probably wouldn't be all that expensive, so it's hard to imagine that Paramount or another enterprising studio would jump on it. Those of us anxious not to have Drillbit Taylor as our last Hughes memory will be glad to see this one get going.
