Oh, hi, Bob Odenkirk! Was anyone going to tell me we’ve crossed over into the Upside Down, because Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, Nobody) is doing the unthinkable by starring in a new version of Tommy Wiseau’s The Room, called The Room Returns. The project’s director and producer, Brando Crawford, recently tossed a trailer for the remake online like a football, and it truly is… something.
What is The Room Returns?
The Room Returns is a remake of The Room, Wiseau’s 2003 disasterpiece, often hailed as one of the worst films of all time (by people who have no taste or sense of adventure). Returns features classic scenes from Wiseau’s original film, with production by the charity foundation Acting for a Cause, known for its live reads of classic plays and screenplays performed by famous actors.
Tommy Wiseau’s The Room is a notorious film known for its production issues, actors quitting the project before its completion, and some of the most memorable lines in cinema. The story takes place in San Francisco, where an amiable banker’s seemingly perfect life is upended when his deceitful bride-to-be embarks on a passionate affair with his best friend. Directed, written, and starring Wiseau, The Room grossed only $5.3 million at the box office, though its cult following since is the stuff of legend.
What happens in The Room Returns trailer?
Directed by Brando Crawford, The Room Returns took 12 hours to film, used green-screen tech, and had almost no budget to speak of. The cast did not rehearse before the performance, learning the dialogue via teleprompters while filming. Today’s The Room Returns trailer begins with Bob Odenkirk playing Wiseau’s character, Johnny. While stumbling around the stage, Odenkirk’s Johnny cries out, “Why, Lisa, why,” before throwing a bouquet of roses and pillows to the ground. While sobbing on the floor, Johnny laments, “Why is this happening to me?” If you look closely, you’ll catch a glimpse of other actors in the project, including Bella Heathcote, Kate Siegel, Mike Flanagan, Arturo Castro, Dilone, Rivkah Reyes, Jarad Schwartz, Cameron Kasky, and Greg Sestero, who played Mark in The Room and now portrays the role of Chris-R.
As a fan of Wiseau’s The Room, I’m dying to see The Room Returns, if only for a good laugh. Nothing could ever be as good (or as bad) as the original. I’ve also had the pleasure of interviewing Wiseau and Sestero for Justin MacGregor’s 2017 dramedy Best F(r)iends, and they were both lovely people at the time. Count me in for The Room Returns!
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