There are a lot of movie rumor stories out there that are essentially a writer, director or actor responding to a leading interviewer question and saying "Yeah, sure, I could see that happening someday." These are pretty much never real stories, since there's a huge gulf between someone thinking a given movie would be a good idea and seeing it actually happen-- just ask all those passionate people who have spent years trying to make an Arrested Development movie. But Louis C.K. operates differently than pretty much anyone else in the entertainment industry, writing, directing and editing every single episode of his FX show Louie and insisting on that kind of complete control in everything he does-- including, one of these days, a Louie movie.

Talking to The AV Club for a fantastically in-depth conversation about the entire season of Louie-- please, please read the whole thing when you get a chance-- C.K.. answered frankly their question about whether or not he'd make a Louie movie, acknowledging that the hourlong USO episode "Duckling" was two thirds of the way there anyway. But C.K.. has a lot of conditions for making that movie happen.

I would definitely love to make movies someday. Unfortunately, I need to meet the level I’m at of control with this show. I’m gonna do this show until they won’t let me anymore, but if I ever get to make a movie, the only pitch I have—and occasionally I get calls from people saying, “Hey, I got some financing, would you like to make a movie?” And I told them, “Yes. Give me $8 million and I’m not telling you what the movie’s about. You’ll be able to see it when it’s finished.” And nobody, thus far, has taken me up on the deal. But I don’t care. I don’t need the movie. I believe someday I’ll get that deal. I believe it will happen.

If you heard anyone else saying they believed they would one day get $8 million to make whatever movie they wanted, you'd assume they were delusional. But over two seasons of Louie, C.K. has proved that he can take complete creative control and make something wonderful with it. And 10 years ago, before he had any of this power, he made the amazing and weird Pootie Tang. It may be a while before we actually get to see the Louie movie, but knowing that C.K.. is sticking to his principles means we'll have a lot to look forward to when it happens.