About a Boy

"The biggest change from book to script that readers [of the novel by Nick Hornby] will notice is the ending," write the Weitzs (Antz, American Pie) in the introduction to their scriptbook about the movie based on the popular British novel. Terminally single and ecstatically child-free, Will, a trendy, 38-year-old Londoner, spends his days buying new CDs, shopping for designer clothes, and worrying about his Audi Coupe and up-to-the-second hairstyle. Nights, whenever possible, are devoted to beautiful women. Thanks to a ubiquitous Christmas standard written by his dad and recorded by everyone from Elvis to the Muppets, Will doesn't have to work like the rest of the world. The royalties rolling in have enabled him to make a profession?an art, really?out of avoiding responsibility. A no-strings fling with a single mom turns on the proverbial light bulb over his head: maybe a good place to meet women would be single-parent support groups. And so, posing as a single dad with a fictitious two-year-old, he joins S.P.A.T. ? Single Parents, Alone Together. Well on his way to charming a single mom named Suzie, he inadvertently bonds with a 12-year-old misfit named Marcus, the latchkey son of Suzie's best friend. Gradually, Will and Marcus become friends, and as Will teaches Marcus how to be a cool kid, Marcus helps Will to finally grow up. Based on Nick Hornby's bestselling British novel, About a Boy is a comedy drama starring Hugh Grant as Will. Directed by Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz (American Pie) and produced by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, Brad Epstein, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner, About a Boy also stars Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Shaft), Rachel Weisz (The Mummy Returns, The Shape of Things), and Nicholas Hoult. About a Boy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and a WGA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. In the acclaimed Newmarket Shooting Script? series format, the book contains a facsimile of the shooting script by Peter Hedges and Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz, an introduction by Chris and Paul Weitz, stills from the film, production notes, and full cast and crew credits. 12 b/w photos