The actor has said he was approached by Kristen Wiig – now confirmed as Nicholson’s co-star – but by the time he’d watched the German original, it was too late

From the moment German comedy Toni Erdmann premiered at Cannes last May, Bill Murray’s name was linked – if only by critics – to a possible US remake. Last month, however, Jack Nicholson was announced as coming out of retirement to take on the role of the larky father to a stern businesswoman, who will be played by Kristen Wiig.

But speaking to CNBC, Murray – who doesn’t have an agent – revealed that he was approached with the role in mind by Wiig, but missed out because of disorganisation.

Murray said: “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. For a while I lost it, and then I found it, but 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.’”

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Murray’s story slightly clashes with the version of events first reported by Variety, who said that Nicholson was always the driving force behind the remake. They paraphrased sources as saying that the actor “was a huge fan of the original and approached Paramount’s Brad Grey with the idea and Grey immediately worked with the team at Paramount to secure the rights”.

If the remake rights did originate with Nicholson, it makes it unlikely Murray would have been in the running. Yet contradictions have characterised reporting on the remake, with original director Maren Ade initially confirmed as being on board, but later saying she and her producer would have nothing to do with it.

Murray signed on to 2014 comedy St Vincent after the director, Theodore Melfi, agree to adapt the role for him after Melfi’s first choice, Nicholson, turned the film down.

No director has yet been confirmed for the Toni Erdmann remake, but many are tipping Alexander Payne to take the reins, having won acclaim for Nicholson in 2004 comedy About Schmidt and recently worked with Wiig on the forthcoming Downsizing.