Billy Crystal starring in Apres Vous remake

According to Variety Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired remake rights to the French comedy "After You" ("Après Vous"). The studio will craft it as a star vehicle for Billy Crystal, who also will produce with Art Linson. The original movie was directed by Pierre Salvadori and had a limited release on June 3rd this year.

The original movie tells the story of Antoine, the busy manager of a fancy restaurant, who cuts through a park in his rush to meet his frustrated girlfriend, Christine, when he stumbles across Louis attempting to hang himself. Antoine foils his efforts and takes the intensely phobic, despondent klutz home, much to Christine's chagrin. Lovesick Louis recalls that he's sent his "suicide note" to his elderly grandparents, so Antoine goes with him to intercept the letter.

Antoine finds himself taking responsibility for Louis' life, getting him a job as a sommelier at the restaurant (despite his total lack of knowledge about wine and his nervousness around strangers) and going to visit Louis' ex-girlfriend Blanche, a florist and the cause of his heartbreak. Antoine finds that Blanche has a new boyfriend, and cunningly arranges for her to discover his infidelity. But when he offers Blanche comfort, she begins to feel drawn to him.

With Antoine's encouragement, Louis gradually develops a newfound confidence, dressing better and excelling at work, all with an eye toward winning Blanche back. Antoine, meanwhile, is falling apart as he gets more involved in trying to fix Louis' life. Christine breaks up with him, and he struggles to hold it together at work. Worse yet, he finds himself increasingly attracted to Blanche, and conflicted in his allegiance to Louis.