The 12 Year Itch

Posted Thursday, May 16, 2002 at 4:50 PM Central

by John Couture

Some directors are known for their fast pace, while other like to take their time to perfect each and every movie. Richard Linklater is about to set a record for the snail's pace of his "latest" project.

The Untitled Project will film small pieces over the next 12 years before it makes its theatrical debut in 2015, at the earliest! The reason for this prolonged production schedule is the story that Linklater wants to tell. The movie will follow a young boy and his family as he matures into a man. The story will start with the first day of school in the first grade and will conclude with the boy's high school graduation.

High profile stars Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette have already signed on to portray the boy's parents and newcomer Ellis Salmon has been cast as the small boy. Linklater says that he's ready for the unpredictabilty of life with the assurance that whatever happens in the next 12 years can be "written" into the movie.

Luckily, Linklater doesn't have quite the fan following as George Lucas. Can you even imagine waiting in line for 12 years?