Steve Carell is giving the secret agent comedy another go, even though no one liked Get Smart. It actually isn’t news that he’s starring in this as-of-yet untitled film, described as being, “in the vein of Stakeout and My Best Friend’s Wedding.” Rather, it’s news that Universal is actually starting up production on the movie, hiring David Flebotte to do a rewrite on the original script by Phil Alden Robinson. Carell’s Carousel Productions company is producing. They’re the same people behind this year’s Carell starrer The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.
Carell’s a busy guy in general. This year alone, he’s in Wonderstone, The Way, Way Back, Despicable Me 2, Foxcatcher, and Anchorman: The Legend Continues. Since Way, Way Back is his subdued indie role, Foxcatcher (in which he plays a real-life man with mental illness who murdered an Olympic wrestler) looks like a serious role, and Despicable Me 2 is his kiddie role, this film, Anchorman 2, and Wonderstone seem to be filling the “wacky comedy” niche. We’ll see how well it turns out.