"Apparently I lack some particular perversion which today's employer is seeking."

So says Ignatius J. Reilly, the lovably insufferable vagabond philosopher protagonist of John Kennedy Toole's Pulitizer Prize-winning novel, "A Confederacy of Dunces." The same could be said for the book itself, which has been the wallowing in a particularly dense corner of Hollywood development hell for the past 30 years.

But you can't keep Ignatius down forever (in theory, anyway), and Hollywood's ready to give it another go — this time with "Hangover" star Zach Galifianakis taking on the role of Reilly, according to Vulture.

This latest attempt at an adaptation of "A Confederacy of Dunces" also has James Bobin ("The Muppets") in talks to sit in the director's chair with a script by Phil Johnston ("Cedar Rapids"). Scott Rudin is producing and setting up shop at Paramount.

"Dunces" has a long track record of close but no cigar ("Cigar? My valve!" Ignatius himself might cry). Harold Ramis tried to put a film version together back in 1982 with John Belushi attached to the role of Reilly; unfortunately, Belushi fatally overdosed a few days before he and Ramis were supposed to meet with execs at Universal. John Candy and Chris Farley were both attached at various points throughout the '90s, and Will Ferrell was once in talks to star in a version being put together by Steven Soderbergh and David Gordon Green.

Zach Galifianakis is the best possible Ignatius so far. James Bobin directing is a very promising prospect, too. We're not holding our breath … but we do have our fingers crossed.