Dick Van Dyke Unveils One Last Grand Adventure Before He Turns 100

At 99, Dick Van Dyke is still doing the thing most 99-year-olds are not: actively hunting his next gig. And with his 100th birthday lining up suspiciously close to Christmas, he wants one more shot at the role that basically screams December.

Yep, Dick Van Dyke wants to play Scrooge

He told Today that he still has the itch to take on Ebenezer Scrooge. The timing made him laugh — it was November when he said it — which is his way of saying the door is still open.

"I always wanted to play 'Scrooge. I could do it. It's just November. I've still got time."

His birthday is December 13, so the idea of him starring as the ultimate Christmas curmudgeon right as he hits triple digits is, frankly, perfect. There are a few new adaptations of 'A Christmas Carol' cooking right now, including one from gothic director Robert Eggers. Realistically, fronting a full-length feature at nearly 100 feels unlikely, but a tight TV special or one-off would be a very doable victory lap.

Still not retiring, still booking jobs

Van Dyke is not slowing down. He picked up a Daytime Emmy last year for his guest turn on 'Days of Our Lives' and joked that he is literally looking for work right now. In the short term, he is busy promoting his new book, '100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life.' The man has been in showbiz for more than 75 years and, judging by how healthy and sharp he looks, is in no mood to pack it in.

The two big what-ifs he still thinks about

• James Bond: After Sean Connery stepped away, producers sounded Van Dyke out about taking over. This was not long after his much-mocked Cockney accent in 'Mary Poppins,' so he passed — a decision that opened the door for George Lazenby. Looking back, he thinks he could have brought a different angle to 007, but at the time he laughed it off, pointing to that accent as a non-starter.
• Cary Grant: Before Grant died in 1986, he floated the idea of teaming up on a movie. Van Dyke turned him down and still kicks himself for it to this day.

So what happens now?

If the universe has any sense of showmanship, somebody will put together a holiday special and let Dick Van Dyke finally play Scrooge. Even if it is just a one-night thing, it would be a pitch-perfect way to celebrate 100 years of a guy who keeps finding new ways to keep working — and keep it fun — long after most people would have rolled credits.