Warner Novel Tied To ‘Casablanca’ Fuels Rumor Of Movie

Film it again, Sam.

Fans are shocked, shocked to learn that Hollywood is thinking about remaking “Casablanca.” And unlike some Hollywood gossip, this rumor has some basis in fact.

The movie’s characters are resurrected in “As Time Goes By,” a book coming out next year. Michael Walsh is writing the Warner novel, which includes a prequel and a sequel to the events in the 1942 film.

As the rumor goes, the book will become a Warner Bros. movie.

“At this point, there’s no confirmation that there’s going to be a movie,” says Emi Battaglia, director of publicity for Warner books. “There has been discussion, but nothing’s been firmed up or finalized.”

The news has left fans of the film, set during World War II in the French Moroccan refugee haven, convinced Hollywood is full of vultures, vultures, everywhere. And it’s left Walsh weary of unfounded rumors.

“This whole thing has somehow taken on a life of its own,” said Walsh, who was approached to take on the project while writing his most recent Warner Books release, “Exchange Alley.” “We all sit around and play the casting game.”

Nothing is close to being definite, says Walsh, who contends the prequel and sequel are natural extensions of clues about events and characters hinted at in the original.

In the past week or two Liz Smith has speculated about casting in her column. Among the rumored stars were Julia Roberts as Ingrid Bergman’s fresh yet wise Ilsa Lund, Sean Penn as Humphrey Bogart’s cynical, reluctant sentimentalist Rick Blaine, and Ralph Fiennes as Paul Heinreid’s idealistic freedom fighter, Victor Laszlo.

Walsh does admit he envisions Penn and Fiennes in the roles but has since sent a letter to Smith requesting she rescind the Roberts rumor, which she did.

“Julia Roberts came out of left field,” says Walsh, former classical music critic for Time magazine. “Liz made that up.”

“Casablanca” has surfaced in multiple remakes already. In 1990, Robert Redford and Lena Olin starred in a knockoff called “Havana.” “Caboblanco,” a turkey of a remake, was released in 1980 with Charles Bronson in the Rick role.