As Scrubs began to wind down over the last few years, the question became: What will happen to Zach Braff? A few years ago, that answer was simple -- he'd be a famous director/star. He had made quite an impact with Garden State, and it seemed like he would continue to make wonderfully music-laden features that balance quirk with a decent semblance of reality. But then, hopes started to crumble. Chicken Little was alright and all -- a family film, so that doesn't count. However, that was followed with The Last Kiss, which didn't live up to expectations, and then The Ex, which ripped out the hearts of Bateman/Braff appreciators and stomped on them.

With his movie path in question until we see what he makes of his sophomore feature Open Hearts, Braff is sticking with television, but behind the scenes. Reuters reports that he and Office alum David Denman are going to jump into a drama pilot for Fox. Considering the oh-so-popular themes on television today, would it be a hospital pitch, or a cop pitch? More of the same for Zach -- he's in negotiations to direct and executive produce Saint of Circumstance. Should things go well, Denman will start as "an office worker who quits his dead-end job to become a paramedic on the night shift." The reason for Zach's involvement -- the pilot was written by his brother, Adam Braff.

So I ask you:

In case you haven't noticed, I can get pretty vocal about my skepticism. One thing I often complain about is the immigration of talented foreign filmmakers, who come over and make disappointing English-language debuts. I won't name names this time around, but you know it is common. Now, the great Dane Susanne Bier announced her own debut long ago, and the film, Things We Lost in the Fire, is actually due next month and it could actually be decent (even with Halle Berry). Then there's her English-language screenplay debut (co-written with Jeffrey Hatcher), The Duchess, which is being directed by Saul Dibb and which stars Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. That will probably be pretty good, too. But her newly announced second film in English, well, that could be awful.

According to Variety, Bier has signed to helm Lost for Words, a romantic comedy or something about a movie star who falls in love with a Chinese actress and her female translator. I'm not sure if its a love triangle thing or a threesome thing or what, but it was scripted by Jamie Curtis, who co-wrote Spice World, so it is sure to be hokey. Now, I make no secret of the fact that I love Spice World. Doesn't matter, I still think this is going to be bad, if only because of my skeptical prejudice. The movie has some more British talent involved, too; it will be produced by Love Actually writer-director Richard Curtis, along with Mr. Bean's Holiday (and Hot Fuzz) producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

In her native Danish language, Bier last gave us After the Wedding, which was nominated for an Oscar earlier this year. She's also the director of festival hits Open Hearts (aka Dogme #28) and Brothers, both of which are being remade into English. Zach Braff (Garden State) is tackling the former while Jim Sheridan (In the Name of the Father) is helming the latter. We'll just have to wait and see what translates better, her films or her filmmaking skills.

Folks, prepare to be bummed out: Zach Braff, Emmy-nominated star of the hit NBC series Scrubs and writer/director/star of Garden State (2004) has placed his latest directorial effort on hold. Open Hearts, based on a Danish film called Elsker dig for evigt was to begin production this summer but, as Braff told Moviehole.net, he will be postponing production. "I was going to do it this summer, but since I couldn't get my top people I'm waiting until next summer." According to IMDB, the original film concerns the travails of an engaged couple after the man is paralyzed in an automobile accident and the woman falls for the husband of the driver that caused the accident. How Braff's take on the story will vary from the original remains to be seen.

While Garden State fans like myself may be disheartened to learn that Braff's next film will take that much longer to hit the screen, the fact that Braff is willing to wait for the right cast would seem to indicate an auteur striving to remain faithful to his vision. Braff's fans should also bear in mind that Open Hearts will not be the light-hearted romp Garden State was. "The next thing I will do will be completely different," he told Moviehole. "It's a really dark drama about a car accident and the way the accident affects all the people involved in it."

As to whether or not this may help firm up Braff's rumored involvement in a new Fletch film (as previously reported here on Cinematical) is anyone's guess. Braff's current film The Last Kiss -- in which he stars but does not direct -- opens in theaters on September 15.