Wow, here’s a trio you don’t hear read in the same sentence everyday: Brett Ratner, Noah Baumbach and Ben Stiller.
Yesterday it was reported that Ben Stiller was circling a project called, “Tower Heist,” that was once African-American-centric and set to star Eddie Murphy (Chris Rock and Chris Tucker were also names once attached).
Obviously that sensibility had already flipped, and Roger Friedman is reporting that the tentatively titled project (it still needs the Donald’s approval) is officially a Brett Ratner project (he was attached long ago) which totally makes sense. The shocker in this equation is that 411 is now reporting that Baumbach has been tapped to pen the script (or rather polish the script already penned by Ted Griffin).
Must mean Stiller really enjoyed working with Baumbach on “Greenberg,” especially because the riff-happy, improv-heavy actor recently noted in Berlin how there was zero improvisation on the set of “Greenberg” but that he greatly admired the director’s approach and carefully calibrated screenplay.
The film had a rough development, hence the various stars attached, but Friedman now says the project is being fast-tracked by Universal. Can you imagine Brett Ratner and Noah Baumbach in the same room pitching ideas together? This actually might end up being the greatest film of all time. God, how we would love to be a fly on the wall in those meetings. Sounds like Stiller’s character will oversee a heist with guys of several creeds and colors. No names have been revealed yet, though evidently Ratner would like to hire James Caan, who had a starring role in Ratner’s segment in “New York I Love You.”
Our wish? Baumbach totally gives this a major overhaul and Ratner is like, wtf?, but loves it anyhow and then tries to direct the most atypical script he’s ever helmed. Dare to dream? Apparently the idea has already changed from a simple heist picture to more of a men-on-a-mercy mission, with the group being blue collar workers. [Image courtesy of M. Morrison]
