How come nobody has ever made a movie about Emperor Norton I?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Norton

And who could play him? Robert Downey Jr., perhaps? He's in too many things at once now, but if such a movie was made five years from now...

[madinmaryland]

1. That guy sounds just like Lee Mercer! National and International, all three! nt

[Javaman]

5. Hey!!! Don't you knock Lee Mercer!! All three!!! nt

[fishwax]

2. I know someone who wrote a musical about him

It had some good songs in it, too. I'm not sure if or on what scale the musical was ever produced on stage, but I know a few of the songs were recorded by a few different bands.

Anyway, I've always thought he would be a great subject for a movie too.

[Auggie]

3. I'd like to see Daniel Day Lewis or Russell Crowe as Norton

and I'd like a film on a larger scope, looking into San Francisco in general. It was unbelievably weird in these parts in the mid 19th century.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. No, wait, wait, I got the craziest idea!

ADAM SAVAGE!

"I reject your reality and substitute my own!"

While they're at it, they could cast Jamie as the police chief who bitchslaps the cop who arrested the Emperor.

[cemaphonic]

12. Ed Norton, surely

the marketing copy writes itself...

[Doc_Technical]

6. There was an episode of "Bonanza"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0529710/

[Beetwasher]

7. Hey! Norton!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. Who the intercourse is that? -nt

[Capn Sunshine]

9. Ed Norton, goofy upstairs neighbor in "The Honeymooners"

Great foil for Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden. VERY popular and hip 50's TV sitcom.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. Thanks -nt

[Brother Buzz]

10. Ed knew all about politics

He worked in the sewer under city hall for two weeks.

[cemaphonic]

13. His story would probably be kind of a downer as a movie though

All his hijinks are fun to read about as excepts, but in a film biopic, you've got a guy who fails in business, bankrupting himself and unhinging his mind in the process, who eked out a marginal existence in cheap hotels, largely on the charity of friends, and died penniless in the streets, lightened a bit by the real affection his friends and neighbors seemd to have for him. Hmm, now that I think about it, this is prime Oscarbait material. Anyone have Harvey Weinsein's phone number handy?

He'd be great as a side character in a movie about Mark Twain though.