Hardy gets a new script

THE HARDY MEN, the planned comedy collaboration between Tom Cruise and Ben Stiller, is throwing its script in the garbage. There were reportedly numerous problems with the numerous drafts that had been circulating and Stiller, Cruise and director Shawn Levy decided to start from scratch. They’ve brough in writer Simon Kinberg (MR. AND MRS. SMITH) to come in and start fresh with a brand new script and “a new direction.” What that new direction is remains to be seen but I’m guessing Kinberg is going to action it up, for lack of a better phrase. The earlier drafts seemed much more comedy than the version Levy talked about. The general premise – the grown-up and estranged Hardy Boys reunite to solve a mystery – will remain but that’s about it. I’m guessing this is a good thing but I worry that they’re changing too much just to appeal to Tom Cruise. I’d prefer it be more comedic than more action-oriented but that’s me. Fox is planning to begin filming once Stiller wraps TROPIC THUNDER and Cruise finishes LIONS FOR LAMBS and Bryan Singer’s untitled WWII thriller.