Directing Bits: Sean Penn Goes ‘Crazy For The Storm’, Steve Pink Talking ‘About Last Night’
Five years afterInto the Wild,Sean Pennis finally getting ready to get back into the director’s chair. As of last fall, he was set to directThe Comedianwith stars Robert De Niro and Kristen Wiig, but it looks now like his next project could instead be another inspired-by-true-events survival drama.
Penn has entered talks to helpCrazy for the Storm, based onNorman Ollestad’s memoir about his complicated relationship with his daredevil father. When Ollestad was 11, he was involved in a plane crash that killed the elder Ollestad and left the younger Ollestad stranded alone on a mountain during a blizzard. Ollestad credits his father’s teachings for helping him survive the incident.
Penn is only looking to direct the picture, not star in it. Nor will he pen the screenplay, as he has for some of his previous projects;Will Fetters, who last scripted the Zac Efron weepieThe Lucky One, is already on board to adapt the story.Varietyreports that Penn was always Warner Bros.' first choice for the pic, though the studio considered a handful of other filmmakers includingAlfonso Cuarón.
After the jump,Hot Tub Time Machinedirector Steve Pink eyes the remake ofAbout Last Night…
Pink would direct from a script byBachelorettewriterLeslye Headland. Though the project’s been brewing for a couple of years now, it seems to have picked up steam in the past few months.Michael EalyandKevin Harthave recently boarded in the roles originally portrayed by Rob Lowe and Jim Belushi, whileRegina Hallis rumored to be eyeing the Elizabeth Perkins part. Screen Gems is still seeking another young actress to fill Demi Moore’s shoes as the love interest. [Deadline]
