Kyle Killen Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Jodie Foster Directs Mel Gibson and his 'Beaver'
Filed under: Comedy », Casting », Deals »
Back in April, I wondered if we can forget reality when watching actors on the big screen. Well, if there's any way to re-warm ourselves to thoughts of Mel Gibson, how about the story of a man and his beaver puppet?That wacky story (the one that had Jim Carrey circling it back in May) is now in the hands of Gibson, with Jodie Foster officially signed as director, according to Variety. Kyle Killen's Blacklist script focuses on a depressed toy manufacturer (Gibson) who comforts himself with his beaver hand-puppet. There's no sexual innuendo in this -- he thinks of his faux beaver friend as a sort of "human creature with human feelings" -- a la Lars and the Real Girl.
On top of directing this puppy, her first film since 1995's Home for the Holidays, Foster will play his wife. And with that, I think this may be one of the most interesting projects to come our way. Sure, it's got the strange premise and promising comparisons to the likes of Lars and Being John Malkovich, but it's much more irresistible for the combination of talent. With Steve Carell and Jay Roach, or the later-circling Jim Carrey, the film isn't so hard to imagine. But out-of-nowhere picks like Gibson and Foster? It just leads to questions about why they'd pick this piece of quirk, and what they'll make of it.
Are you ready for Mel, Jodie, and his beaver?
Jim Carrey Likes 'The Beaver'?
Filed under: Comedy », Casting », Deals », RumorMonger »

Don't worry -- this post isn't about heaping Leave it to Beaver on the ever-growing remake pile. (Especially because one was made in 1997! -- SW) In fact, this new project is one to keep an eye on. The Beaver, written by Kyle Killen, topped the Black List in 2008, with Steve Carell in line to star. Now the Risky Biz Blog reports that Carell is out, and Jim Carrey might be working his way in. What could possibly be good enough to top the List and attract both Steve and Jim? How about the story of a down-on-his-luck toy manufacturer who becomes way too close to a beaver hand puppet he finds, "treating it as something close to a human creature with human feelings"? Still not enough? How about the fact that it's been compared to both Being John Malkovich and Lars and the Real Girl? Methinks Jim might be a wee bit perfect for the part.
One would imagine that a project like this would get a kickass director right away, but Anonymous Content is still shopping around since Jay Roach said no. And they've even got one heck of a surprise in the mix: Jodie. Foster. I don't know how the woman behind Little Man Tate and Home for the Holidays got to wanting this gig, but word has it she's one of the contenders. Everything might be up in the air right now, but you can be sure that we'll let you know who signs on the dotted line whenever the news hits.









