by: Sammy Mink
Nick Offerman, Emma Thompson and Kristen Schaal are joining Robert Redford and Nick Nolte for A WALK IN THE WOODS. The Ken Kwapis helmed adaptation follows an aging travel writer who decides to hike the 2,000 mile long Appalachian Trail in the company of his high school friend who he hasn’t seen for years. Redford and Nolte will star as Bill Bryson and Stephen Katz, respectively, taking the long hike together. There’s no word yet on what roles the newcomers will play but I’m going to venture a guess that Thompson will play Bryson’s very understanding wife while Offerman and Schaal will play two of the many interesting characters Bryson and Katz encounter on their hike.
Offerman is probably best known for his deadpan humor on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” as the government-hating Ron Swanson. He will reprise his role as Deputy Chief Hardy in “22 Jump Street” later this year. Thompson is the British actress known for her period role in “Sense and Sensibility” as well as her roles as Professor Sybil Trelawney in the “Harry Potter” franchise and P.L. Travers in last year’s “Saving Mr. Banks.” Next up for the actress are stints as a screenwriter for “Annie,” “Effie Gray” and “My Fair Lady.” Comedienne Schaal is less well known but you’ll recognize her as crazed page Hazel on “30 Rock” and from her voiceover roles in “Despicable Me 2” and “Toy Story 3.”
As an aside: Not to be that person, but if you haven’t read the book yet, you need to get on that.
Offerman and Schaal are repped by UTA. Schaal is also repped by Avalon Management. Thompson is with WME and Hamilton Hodell.
