Perhaps because I wasn’t that impressed with the franchise’s second film, or perhaps due to bad eyesight, but I’ve been completely clueless when it came to the upcoming Night at the Museum 3 from director Shawn Levy, with Ben Stiller reprising his increasingly more unbelievable role of security guard Larry Daley. Whatever. You make two movies that gross almost a billion dollars and I don’t expect anything different. The first of the film’s many historical character to come back will be Robin Williams, who is currently in negotiations to reprise his role of Teddy Roosevelt, according to THR.
He portrayed Roosevelt in both of the previous Night at the Museum films, serving as Larry’s informational guidance counselor. The only thing that’s known, I suppose, is that the setting will be moved to one of the many museums in London. Which means that there must be some kind of a touring exhibit or a similar event, if Roosevelt is going to have a part to play here, and what kind of a lame exhibit brings along a Roosevelt piece that looks nothing like Roosevelt?
Even though I really like a relatively subdued Williams for his roles in One Hour Photo and World’s Greatest Dad, he kind of makes me uncomfortable in this role. It’s like seeing a grandparent on pain medication for the first time. That’s just me, I guess.
Robin Williams is coming back in a big way here lately, with the CBS sitcom The Crazy Ones, which just received a full season order. His last appearance on TV before that was in an excellent episode of FX’s Louie, taking part in a strip club scene that begged for tissues. He was widely seen in a portrayal of another president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, and has a wide upcoming slate that includes the Phil Alden Robinson comedic drama The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, the Dito Montiel drama opposite with Bob Odenkirk, the ensemble comedy Merry Friggin’ Christmas, and in Terry Jones’ sci-fi comedy Absolutely Anything, which will reunite all five surviving member s of Monty Python. That’s assuming that film should that film ever get started.
So Robin has enough going on that taking on the obvious role reprisal makes sense, even though his talents are barely utilized. It’s only a matter of time before more actors start signing up, as production is set to begin in February.
Below you’ll see Williams’ appearance a few weeks ago on David Letterman, where he’s just as high-energy as he’s always been. For some, that may not be a good thing.
