While Miguel Arteta hasn’t yet had a big screen smash hit with his features efforts “Youth In Revolt” and “Cedar Rapids,” he has established himself as a director in firm command of comedy, with credits on the small screen that include “New Girl,” “Enlightened,” “Nurse Jackie,” “House Of Lies” and more. And we can only imagine those skills have helped him land the job on one of Disney’s next efforts aimed at kids.
With “The Kids Are All Right” helmer Lisa Cholodenko exiting last month, Arteta has now stepped in to direct “Alexander & The Terrible, Horrible No Good Very Bad Day” with Steve Carell still attached to star. Produced by Shawn Levy‘s company 21 Laps, the project is based on the book by Judith Viorst, about an unlucky family (with Carell as the father) living through a horrendous day, while the youngest son Alexander ponders a permanent move to Australia. And you can bet Disney is thinking franchise as the books have two sequels already on shelves, “Alexander, Who’s Not (Do Your Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going To Move” and “Alexander Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday.”
Arteta and Carell previously worked together on “The Office,” with the former directing the excellent season three episode “Diwali,” so the pair already have a base to build off. Production will begin this fall. [Deadline]
