Charlie Day sets his directorial debut with El Tonto comedy feature film

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Word has come down the wire that IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and PACIFIC RIM franchise alum Charlie Day has set his directorial debut with the announcement of EL TONTO, an upcoming comedy that Day will also write and star in. On board to produce and finance the venture are Armory Films and Metalwork Pictures, who will see the project start its principal photography in Los Angeles next month.

According to the film's official press release, the story of EL TONTO follows an idiot mute (Day) who, after getting off a bus in Los Angeles, rises through the ranks to become a beloved Hollywood celebrity, only to lose it all.

In talking about the new project, Armory Films' Christopher Lemole and Tim Zajaros (MUDBOUND, ARTIC) said: “We’ve been looking to do something with Charlie for a while now. The script is hilarious, incredibly original, and films like this just don’t get made anymore. We’re thrilled to get in on the ground floor of his directorial career, as we believe the skies the limit for him.”

A character that is an idiot mute sounds to me like a tough sell nowadays, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Charlie Day. In my experience, Day is a highly expressive and animated actor that is more than capable of delivering a solid physical performance in addition to possessing seasoned chops as a comedian. I suppose we'll see if he has what it takes to pull off a Mr. Bean-like performance when EL TONTO bumbles into theaters.