According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook) has joined the cast of The Polka King, based on the true story of Ponzi schemer Jan Lewan who had once been a local Pennsylvania Polka sensation and who had even been nominated for a Grammy. His get-rich-quick scheme landed him in jail. Among the victims of Lewan’s swindle were older fans of his polka band.
Jack Black (Goosebumps) will star as Lewan. Weaver’s role has not yet been disclosed. The feature will be co-written and co-directed by Maya Forbes (Infinitely Polar Bear) and former Simpsons writer Wally Wolodarsky. Black will co-produce under his Electric Dynamite banner along with Priyanka Mattoo, Ben Stiller’s Red Hour and Shivani Rawat’s ShivHans.
The story is based on the 2007 documentary The Man Who Would Be Polka King, which was directed by Joshua Brown and John Mikulak.
Weaver received her second Oscar nomination for her role in David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook. She was recently in Woody Allen’s Magic in the Moonlight and is wrapping up filming of two James Franco projects – The Masterpiece and Zeroville.
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