The last time we checked in on the adaptation of Kevin Wilson’s novel The Family Fang, Nicole Kidman had the rights to the book and had teamed up with Rabbit Hole screenwriter (and playwright) David Lindsay-Abaire to develop the project. Things have moved on in the months since, and Jason Bateman is now on board to co-star and direct the film.
Bateman has recently made a splash with his directorial debut, spelling bee comedy Bad Words, which earned rave reviews at the Toronto Film Festival. Now that financing is in place and Bateman is aboard to call the shots, the film will kick off shooting next year.
Wilson’s book follows a couple of performance artists who routinely pushed their kids into taking part in bizarre events. Now, the grown children are summoned back to the parental home in a state of crisis and are unwittingly enlisted once more in a mysterious final performance,bringing with them all the seething resentment built up over the years.
Bad Words, which also sees Bateman pulling double duty, has been bought by Fox Searchlight, but there’s been no announcement of a release date yet. He’s recently worked on Shawn Levy’s This Is Where I Leave You and is shooting Horrible Bosses 2. Kidman has The Railway Man due out here on January 1, followed by Grace Of Monaco, Before I Go To Sleep and, for a total change of pace, Paddington.