Interview: Walter McKnight

 

For this edition of Interview, Last Resort Films president Phil Dolan sits down with writer Walter McKnight (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Monster Squad) to discuss his latest romantic comedy, Unreasonable Doubt, and what else he has in the works....

PD: Unreasonable Doubt is a project you first mentioned over three years ago. Can you describe the process of finally shepherding it to the big screen?

WM: If I recall, I originally mentioned it trying to find ideas for the female lead role. Originally I was pretty set on Wyatt Russell as the male lead, and wanted to find someone who would be compatible. Then I saw the film Palm Springs and simply fell head over heels in love with Cristin Milioti and knew she had to be the female lead in this project. Once she was set, I revised my concept to fit her talents, which led to going after Channing Tatum eventually as the male lead. Cristin was the key to the entire project.

PD: The R-Rated Romantic Comedy - especially a female-led one - is a rare thing. What made you decide to go with such an adult tone?

WM: Outside of the Judd Apatow and Farrelly Brothers films, you're right, there are not a ton of well known and successful R-rated romantic comedies. The aforementioned Palm Springs managed to work with its R-rating and another good recent one was Anyone But You. I felt like it could still be successful and that an R-rating would play better to the comedic strengths of both Cristin and Channing.

PD: Another type of film you're known for as a writer are the live-action adaptations of animated films. Do you have any in the works?

WM: I recently submitted a sequel to Pocahontas to the studio. I also have a few ideas of others to do - mostly looking at 80s and 90s animated films that I think have live-action potential. Nothing concrete beyond Pocahontas 2 though.

PD: What is next for you?

WM: I finally got around to writing a second Buffy the Vampire Slayer film. If it's successful, I'd love to close things out as a trilogy. Beyond that I have the animation adaptation ideas as well as a couple romantic comedy ideas that I may decide to flesh out further.