Bill Murray lost out on Hollywood's Toni Erdmann remake to Jack Nicholson because he didn't watch the screener

The comedian told reporters: 'I’m just not very organised'

Despite only reaching UK cinemas earlier this month, Hollywood is already planning a remake of Maren Ade’s German-language comedy Toni Erdmann.

Last week, Deadline reported that Jack Nicholson will return to acting to play the titular character, while Kristen Wiig will play the character’s daughter.

However, Nicolson - who last appeared in 2010’s How Do You Know - wasn’t the studio’s first choice: the brilliant Bill Murray was.

“I’m in trouble with myself because Kristen Wiig, who I think is so wonderful, sent me something and said, ‘Would you look at this thing?’ And I’m just not very organised,” Murray told CNBC, the comedian dressed in patched overalls.

Without saying the film’s name, he continued: “I didn’t get around to watching this thing that she wanted me to watch, and then she said, ‘Well, Jack Nicholson took the job.’ Well, you know that guy’s a poacher. He’ll take anything. So I think I’m out of that one.”

What could have been... Interestingly, Nicholson previously helped develop the comedy-drama St. Vincent and was attached to play a starring role: after dropping out, Bill Murray took the role on Nicholson’s recommendation.

The Oscar-nominated German-language version of Toni Erdmann is currently in cinemas.