New movies planned for Steve Carell and a celebration of Australia
After poring through the past week’s press releases and news feeds, two items caught our collective eye, announcements that will lead to new films some time in 2013 or 2014. Or not.
Carell-a-vision
First, in what feels like a monthly activity, Steve Carell has joined another film project, one that was almost lost in production purgatory. It’s currently referred to as Untitled FBI Wedding Comedy, a concept that was wandering around aimlessly at Warner Bros. (also known as “in turnaround”) until Universal swooped in, acquired it and put Carell in the star / producer role.
Why? Is Universal shooting for some combination of the spy smarts of Get Smart and the stumbling espionage of Date Night? Hmm. Why is comic actor Steve Carell that much better than the comedy films in which he stars? (Yeah, I’m thinking aboutDinner For Schmucks right about now.)
As of this writing, Carell has four films on the way (one drama, one comedy, two mixed), so we’re guessing this latest one will hit in 2013, possibly early 2014 depending on New Line’s 2013 plans for the Carell magician comedy Burt Wonderstone.
Aussies Love Them Some Love, Too
Following the concept and format of Paris, Je T’Aime (2006) and New York, I Love You (2009, shown left), Australian producers John Polson and Gary Hamilton (The Bank Job) have announced their plans for Sydney, I Love You, with production scheduled to begin in early 2012. According to the pair’s press release, the film will be a “love letter from Australia’s top film talent to one of the greatest cities in the world.”
As with its French and American predecessors, the movie will be composed of twelve separate 8-10 minute short films, all taking place in Sydney, each set in a different month. That’s a whole bunch of Australian film production folks getting a paycheck. Talent isn’t set at this time, but the team is promising a full range of Australian talent, from “living legends” (call Peter Weir) to “up-and-comers,” probably from the Tropfest short film festival.
We’ll try to keep you all updated on notable casting. Maybe we could compare the casts of the three compilation films. Unless we simply forget or just get remarkably overwhelmed by the idea.
Norm Schrager blogs at Meet in the Lobby.
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