“I Guess the Question for me is... What’s Behind the Yellow Hat?”

LOS ANGELES – Universal Studios announced Monday that Timothée Chalamet is set to star as the Man in the Yellow Hat in the new three-hour biopic, which explores the life of Theodore “Ted” Yellowhat from his troubled childhood through his descent into an increasingly codependent relationship with a primate.

It’s been a tough year for Chalamet, who has endured controversy after controversy and was cast as The Man only after originally auditioning for The Monkey and being rejected four times in a row. Ultimately, the role of Curious George was given to Jacob Elordi, in his most physically challenging role yet. Elordi is reportedly on an extreme diet of nothing but water and banana peels to shrink himself before shooting begins.

The supporting cast includes Adam Driver as The Doorman, Saoirse Ronan as Claire Zucchini, and Willem Dafoe as the physical manifestation of George’s curiosity; Dafoe will perch on Elordi’s shoulders, asking deep metaphysical questions while Elordi hoots and chatters onscreen.

When we meet Chalamet, he is staring out the window of his apartment. In preparation for the role, he’s been living in this studio apartment for six months with a monkey trained to destroy anything he touches. “I guess the question for me is…what’s behind the yellow hat?” he says, a pensive expression crossing his face. “Maybe even more important: what’s beneath the monkey?”

The Man in the Yellow Hat promises to be Chalamet’s meatiest role ever, and he knows it. During our interview, he lets slip that he’s already read the entire script. He’s most excited for his tearful monologue in the third act, where he cradles the animal in his arms and whispers, “You were never curious, George. You were the curiosity.”

A Harvard Lampoon parody