An aging author seeks to reconnect with both his homeland and an old friend during a hike of the Appalachian Trail in Director Ken Kwapis’ new comedy, A Walk in the Woods
Based on Bill Bryson’s memoir, A Walk in the Woods stars Robert Redford as a fictionalized version of the author who — after spending two decades abroad in England as an award-winning travel writer — returns to the USA and decides the best way to bond again with the country is a trek up the Appalachian Trail. Comedy ensues when he is joined on his vision quest by his old friend Katz (Nick Nolte), a charming rogue who sees the trip as both a way to sneak out of dealing with his responsibilities and an opportunity to have one last “adventure” with an estranged pal even though they have very different ideas about the definition of that word.
Kwapis spoke about the joys and challenges of making the film in a conversation with Director Larry Karaszewski (Screwed) after the DGA screening in Los Angeles on September 20.
In addition to A Walk in the Woods, Kwapis' work includes the feature films He's Just Not That Into You, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Beautician and the Beast and Vibes; the movies for television Friday Night Dinner, Susan 313, Border Line and Noah; the pilots for the series The Bernie Mac Show, Outsourced and The Office; and episodes of the series Happyish, Malcolm in the Middle, Freaks and Geeks and The Larry Sanders Show. Kwapis also received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for his 2007 episode of The Office “Gay Witch Hunt.” He has been a member of the DGA since 1983.