Ben Stiller has had a pretty nice run as a filmmaker. Starting with REALITY BITES, he went on to make THE CABLE GUY, ZOOLANDER, and TROPIC THUNDER before completing THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY. The trailer for MITTY premiered this morning and showcased a much more nuanced style than we have seen from the actor. The trailer looks like a combination of Michel Gondry and Wes Anderson, which is one hell of a mix for a director.
But, the dramatic components of MITTY may not be Stiller’s last foray into serious filmmaking. The Hollywood Reporter names him as one of the candidates to take over THE CURRENT WAR for producers The Weinstein Company. The Black List screenplay byMichael Mitnick was originally going to be directed by Timur Bekmambetov, but he has dropped out although will remain as producer. The synopsis sounds really intriguing.
The story takes place in the late-1880s and revolves around power titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse’s battle over the distribution of electricity. Edison championed direct current (DC) for electric power distribution over alternating current (AC), which was backed by several European companies and Westinghouse Electric.
I am sure Nikola Tesla would figure into the equation somewhere which instantly makes me think of Christopher Nolan‘s THE PRESTIGE. Before seeing the trailer for THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, I was unsure if Stiller would be a match for the material. Now, I hope he takes the job. I would love to see him stretch his abilities behind the camera and deliver something truly remarkable.
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