He's worked with some excellent directors in his time, but now Chris Pine is looking to take his own turn behind the camera – whilst also staying in front of it. He's set up his directorial debut, Poolman, which will co-star Annette Bening and Danny DeVito.
Pine also co-wrote the script with Ian Gotler, and the Star Trek actor will play Darren Barrenman, a hapless dreamer and would-be philosopher who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block in sunny Los Angeles and crashing city council meetings with his neighbors Jack and Diane (DeVito and Bening).
When Barrenman uncovers the greatest water heist in LA history since Chinatown he makes uneasy alliances with a beautiful and connected femme fatale while following every lead he can with corrupt city officials, burned out Hollywood types, and mysterious benefactors – all in the name of protecting his precious Los Angeles.
With his Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins as one of the producers, you have to ponder whether the femme fatale could end up being played by one G. Gadot, assuming she finds time in her schedule and wants to join in the fun.
The cameras should be rolling on this one in June in Los Angeles. Pine, meanwhile, has several film performances on the way, including in Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling, action thriller The Contractor and the still-mysterious new Dungeons & Dragons movie.