The French connection! Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart in talks to star in Hollywood remake of smash hit The Intouchables

By Mike Larkin For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:01 EST, 30 March 2016 | Updated: 04:55 EST, 31 March 2016

It is the international hit that scored more than $400 million at the box office.

And now Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart are being courted to star in a Hollywood remake of French dramedy The Intouchables.

The pair are locked in talks to appear as the main characters in the movie, which tells the tale of a wealthy quadriplegic who becomes unlikely friends with a benefits scrounger after he takes him on as his full-time carer.

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Double act? Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart are in talks to star in a remake of French hit The Intouchables
Double act? Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart are in talks to star in a remake of French hit The Intouchables

Double act? Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart are in talks to star in a remake of French hit The Intouchables

According to Deadline, The Weinstein Company is in advanced talks with the dynamic duo, who they hope will be a smash hit comedy pairing on the silver screen.

It will be just the latest high-profile role for Bryan. who since his award-winning turn as Walter White came to an end was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his turn in Trumbo, where he played the famed Communist Party USA member scriptwriter blacklisted by the Hollywood establishment.

Kevin meanwhile has become the go-to man for movie producers seeking a fun-sized funnyman.

Earlier this year he starred alongside Ice Cube in Ride Along 2 and will appear on screens opposite Dwayne Johnson later this year in summer comedy Central Intelligence.

While The Intouchables, which has been likened to Driving Miss Daisy, made a mammoth $426 worldwide, it only raked in $10 million of that in the US, which made it an attractive remake proposition for The Weinstein Company. 

Smash: The original became the biggest box office hit in French history and launched Omar Sy to stardom

Smash: The original became the biggest box office hit in French history and launched Omar Sy to stardom

The film has been long in the works, and it previously emerged Bridesmaids favourite Paul Feig had been hired to write a script, though he later decided against directing the picture.

The current casting move is sure to disappoint Colin Firth fans however, as he was previously linked with a role in the film.

Tom Shadyac of The Nutty Professor fame was previously mooted as a director, however it is thought talks are now on-going with My Week with Marilyn moviemaker Simon Curtis, and he could be confirmed in the role in the near future.

The original movie launched Omar Sy to stardom, paving the way for him to appear in 2015 box office blockbuster Jurassic World.

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