LOS ANGELES, June 16 — The English-language remake of the hit French comedy movie — originally starring Omar Sy and François Cluzet — will open March 9, 2018, in US theatres, The Weinstein Company has announced.

Directed by Neil Burger (Limitless, Divergent), the American remake of The Intouchables will follow the same plot as the original movie, focusing on the unlikely friendship between a paralysed businessman and an ex-con in need of a job.

Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston takes over from François Cluzet in the role of Phillip Lacasse, a Park Avenue billionaire who is left paralyzed and wheelchair-bound after a hang-gliding accident. Kevin Hart takes over Omar Sy’s character, renamed Dell. Nicole Kidman, Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) and Aja Naomi King (How to Get Away With Murder) also star.

Released in 2011, the original French movie grossed US$400 million (RM1.71 billion) worldwide, making it the second most successful non-English-language film of all time. In France, the film was watched by 19.5 million moviegoers and saw Omar Sy win the following year’s César Award for best actor. — AFP-Relaxnews