Russell Crowe set to direct film adaptation of Vietnamese-born Australian Ahn Do's memoir novel The Happiest Refugee

By Monique Friedlander For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 10:59 EST, 4 April 2016 | Updated: 13:34 EST, 4 April 2016

Hot off the heels of his latest Australian film offering The Water Divider, Russell Crowe is set to direct another movie on home turf.

The 51-year-old Hollywood star is set to directs a film adaptation of comedian Ahn Do's memoir novel, The Happiest Refugee.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph about the project, best-selling author Anh, 38, said: 'It's very, very exciting. We are working on a screenplay at the moment, and it's going to be made into a film and directed by Russell Crowe'. 

New project for Rusty: Russell Crowe, 51, is set to tell another tale from Down Under as he directs a film adaptation of comedian Ahn Do's memoir novel, The Happiest Refugee

New project for Rusty: Russell Crowe, 51, is set to tell another tale from Down Under as he directs a film adaptation of comedian Ahn Do's memoir novel, The Happiest Refugee

He also revealed that Russell, who lives part of the year in Sydney, contacted him with a film proposal by way of an unsolicited phone call.

'I get this phone call, this deep voice on the line and it turns out it's Russell Crowe. I'm thinking it's my mate Johno putting on a deep voice, but it really was Russell', Anh quipped. 

Russell initially acquired filming rights to the harrowing novel in 2011 but decided to delay production until he could determine whether such a film would be commercially viable.  

Big news! Speaking to The Daily Telegraph about the project, best-selling author Anh, 38, said: 'It's very, very exciting... it's going to be made into a film and directed by Russell Crowe'

Big news! Speaking to The Daily Telegraph about the project, best-selling author Anh, 38, said: 'It's very, very exciting... it's going to be made into a film and directed by Russell Crowe'

For his part, Russell said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph in December 2014: 'Here's the risk... This movie has to work commercially or it's back to the end of the line buddy

'It's got to find an audience.'

He has since signed the deal with Anh, who currently co-hosts Channel 10's documentary series Long Long Family alongside Chrissie Swan. 

Anh travelled to Australia in 1980 on a shanty fishing boat with 47 other Vietnamese refugees.

Testing the waters: Russell initially acquired filming rights to the harrowing novel in 2011 but decided to delay production until he could determine whether such a film would be commercially viable

Testing the waters: Russell initially acquired filming rights to the harrowing novel in 2011 but decided to delay production until he could determine whether such a film would be commercially viable

Malnourished and dehydrated, a young Anh arrives in Sydney to build a new life for himself with his family.

He later became a lawyer and an award-winning comedian, having taken out the coveted Australia's Comedian of the Year award in 2008.

His novel, The Happiest Refugee was awarded Book of the Year in 2011 and has sold over 350,000 copies. 

A literary hit: The Happiest Refugee was awarded Book of the Year in 2011 and has sold over 350,000 copies

A literary hit: The Happiest Refugee was awarded Book of the Year in 2011 and has sold over 350,000 copies

 

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