Glen Powell And Stephen Gaghan Reimagines ‘Heaven Can Wait’ For Paramount

A reimagining of ‘Heaven Can Wait’ is currently in early development at Paramount, with Glen Powell set to star. Stephen Gaghan, known for his Oscar-winning script for Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Traffic’, is writing the project. 

The original 1978 movie, based on Harry Segall’s play, starred Warren Beatty and received nine Oscar nominations, winning for best art direction.

Also Read: Glen Powell Expresses Concern for His Future in Exclusive Sneak Peek of ‘Hit Man’

The story of ‘Heaven Can Wait’ follows an NFL quarterback who dies prematurely due to a mistake by an angel and returns to Earth in the body of a recently murdered millionaire. 

The film, directed by Beatty and Buck Henry, with a script co-written by Elaine May, was a remake of Segall’s play which had previously been adapted into the 1941 feature ‘Here Comes Mr. Jordan’ and the comedy ‘Down to Earth’ starring Chris Rock.

Powell and Gaghan’s version will maintain the core concept of a man taken before his time but will not feature a football player as the main character. Powell, an in-demand leading man, recently starred in Sony’s romantic comedy ‘Anyone but You’ opposite Sydney Sweeney. 

He will also appear in Richard Linklater’s ‘Hit Man’ for Netflix, Universal’s action sequel ‘Twisters’, the revenge drama ‘Huntington’, Edgar Wright’s adaptation of ‘The Running Man’, and a new film from J.J. Abrams.

-Sushmita Sarkar