Three years after it was filmed, a remake of one of cinema’s most beloved disasters still hasn’t found its way to a wide audience — and even its star doesn’t fully understand why.
Bob Odenkirk, best known for his role as Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul, was cast as Johnny in The Room Returns, a remake of Tommy Wiseau’s legendary 2003 cult classic The Room. The film wrapped production but has yet to receive a wide release — a situation Odenkirk himself has described as puzzling, given how long it’s been sitting on the shelf.
It’s an unusual story even by Hollywood standards: a high-profile ensemble remake of arguably the most famous “so-bad-it’s-good” movie ever made, built on a greenscreen stage, assembled for charity, and starring a genuinely impressive cast — yet still waiting for its moment.
What Is The Room Returns and How Did It Come Together?
The project was first announced in early 2023. Director, producer, and co-star Brando Crawford spearheaded the greenscreen-based remake, with a stated goal of donating proceeds to amfAR, the HIV/AIDS research organization.
The film’s connection to the original extends beyond the title. Greg Sestero, who played Mark in Wiseau’s 2003 original and later wrote the behind-the-scenes memoir The Disaster Artist, appears in the remake alongside the new cast. His presence gives the project a direct line to
Odenkirk steps into the role of Johnny, the character Wiseau himself played in the original. It’s a role loaded with cultural baggage — Johnny is one of the most quoted, most mocked, and most strangely beloved characters in cult film history. Filling those shoes, even intentionally, is no small thing.
The Cast That Makes This More Than a Gimmick
What separates The Room Returns from a simple fan project or a quick cash-in is the caliber of talent involved. The ensemble assembled for this remake reads like a genre film lover’s wish list.
| Cast Member | Role / Connection |
|---|---|
| Bob Odenkirk | Stars as Johnny (originally played by Tommy Wiseau) |
| Greg Sestero | Original cast member; played Mark in the 2003 film |
| Bella Heathcote | Co-stars in the remake |
| Kate Siegel | Co-stars in the remake |
| Mike Flanagan | Co-stars in the remake |
| Brando Crawford | Director, producer, and co-star |
Mike Flanagan’s involvement is particularly notable. The filmmaker behind acclaimed horror projects including The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass appearing in a greenscreen remake of The Room is exactly the kind of unexpected crossover that makes this project so hard to categorize — and so intriguing.
The Tommy Wiseau Connection Bob Odenkirk Wants to Clarify
One of the more interesting threads in this story is the question of how closely The Room Returns is actually tied to Tommy Wiseau himself. The original film remains Wiseau’s singular creation — written, directed, produced, and starred in by him — and his involvement, or lack of it, in any remake carries real weight for fans of the cult classic.
Odenkirk has moved to clarify the nature of the connection between the two projects, though the specific details of his clarification extend beyond what is confirmed in the available source material. What is clear is that the remake does maintain a tangible link to the original through Sestero’s participation, and that the project was conceived as a charitable endeavor rather than a straightforward commercial remake.
The greenscreen production approach also sets it apart visually from both the original film and conventional remakes, suggesting the filmmakers were aiming for something more experimental than a straight retelling.
Why Is the Release Being Held Up?
This is the question hanging over the entire project. Three years is a long time for a completed film to remain unreleased, particularly one with a recognizable cast and a built-in audience of The Room devotees who have been attending midnight screenings of the original for decades.
Odenkirk has indicated he is genuinely uncertain about what is causing the delay. Distribution challenges are common in independent film, but the combination of a well-known cast, a charitable mission, and a subject with proven cult appeal makes the stalled release all the more puzzling to observers — and apparently to the people who made it.
The charitable angle adds another layer of urgency. Every month the film sits unreleased is a month that potential donations to amfAR’s HIV/AIDS research work aren’t being generated. That’s not a trivial consideration, and it likely adds to the frustration felt by those involved in the production.
What Happens Next for The Room Returns
As of now, no confirmed wide release date has been announced for The Room Returns. The film remains in a holding pattern that its own star cannot fully explain.
For fans of the original, the wait is a strange kind of irony. The Room itself famously opened to near-empty theaters before finding its devoted cult audience through word of mouth and midnight screenings. Its remake, assembled with genuine talent and a worthy cause behind it, can’t seem to get in front of an audience at all — at least not yet.
Whether the film eventually lands on a streaming platform, receives a limited theatrical run, or finds some other path to viewers remains to be seen. What’s certain is that the story of this remake has already become nearly as strange as the story of the original film itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Johnny in The Room Returns?
Bob Odenkirk plays Johnny, the role originally played by Tommy Wiseau in the 2003 cult classic The Room.
Who directed The Room Returns?
Brando Crawford directed, produced, and co-stars in the film.
Is anyone from the original The Room in the remake?
Yes. Greg Sestero, who played Mark in the original 2003 film, appears in the remake.
What charity is the film supporting?
Proceeds from the film are intended to benefit amfAR, an organization focused on HIV/AIDS research.
When was The Room Returns made?
The project was first announced in early 2023, meaning the film has been completed for approximately three years without a wide release.
Why hasn’t The Room Returns been released widely?
Bob Odenkirk has said he is not sure what is causing the delay, and no official explanation for the held release has been confirmed publicly.
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