James Franco says Tommy Wiseau approves of The Disaster Artist 99.9 percent

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

THE ROOM has been graced with the label of “the CITIZEN KANE of bad movies,” but the ironic thing is the movie about its creation – THE DISASTER ARTIST – is being met with standing ovations and scores of cheers. Critics and audiences lucky enough to have seen it have praised it for its sheer hilarity and abundance of heart (much in the style of Tim Burton’s ED WOOD), and it seems even the film’s real life subject – Tommy Wiseau, the director of THE ROOM – approves of the movie. Well, mostly…like literally a percentage from 100% approval.

During an interview with EW, director/star James Franco (playing Wiseau) spoke about the unbelievable response to the movie at SXSW, saying it was one of the best screenings he’s ever attended. However, he was worried about the response from the real Wiseau, fearing he would dislike the movie. Turns out he loved the film…except for one tiny, tiny, tiny aspect:

He didn’t see it until SXSW, and we were unsure of what he was going to think, especially because he said, [mimicking Wiseau’s accent] “Greg book only 40 percent true.” It was like, well, that’s what we based it on, so what are you going to think about our movie? And that screening was so successful, it was like a rock concert. That and the Spring Breakers screening at SXSW [in 2013] would be the two greatest screenings of my life, I imagine. I was like, “So, Tommy, what did you think of the movie?” And he said, “I approve 99.9 percent.” And we were like, “What was the 0.1 percent?” He said, “I think the lighting, in the beginning, a little off.” [Laughs] I told Brandon [Trost, The Disaster Artist‘s cinematographer]. He was like, “Yeah, maybe we should watch The Room, get some lighting pointers!”

Hey, 99.9 percent isn’t bad at all. Even GET OUT only managed a 99%.

The first trailer for the movie debuted recently, and the reception, much like to the movie itself, has been nothing short of terrific, with praise going to Franco’s performance and the movie’s comedic tone. The film’s release date is nestled right in the heart of Oscar season, hitting theaters December 1.

Anyone who has read or seen Wiseau say anything about anything knows this is the exact kind of hilarious, random opinion he would have towards a movie, especially the one about him. In a way, his words make me even more excited for the movie, because I feel like I have to see what he considers "a little off" when it comes to lighting. I have seen the movie's trailer more than I care to admit, but in the end, the movie's greatest marketing tool is Tommy Wiseau himself.

THE DISASTER ARTIST arrives December 1 with Franco, Seth Rogen, Dave Franco and more.